Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong today urged that the public accounts committee (PAC) to be speedily revived so that it can complete its 1MDB probe to restore public confidence.

Addressing the Gerakan annual general meeting today, Mah in his opening speech, said 1MDB’s public responses to various allegations have not convinced the public.

“Our feedback indicated that although 1MDB has issued many press statements to clarify and counter various allegations, many people are still not receptive.

“We must improve our communication efforts, and more importantly, to restore public confidence, the PAC, as a bipartisan set-up, has to be quickly reconstituted and proceed with its investigation.

“We don’t want any party to twist the facts to criticise the government,” said Mah.

Gerakan’s 44th national delegates conference at Setia Convention Centre, Setia Alam, Shah Alam today is being officiated by Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose pet project 1MDB has turned into the country’s biggest financial scandal.

Mah said he hoped that the matter could be resolved and the truth finally unveiled by the end of the year.

'Political football'

Meanwhile, Najib in his opening speech at the conference later, urged that 1MDB not be treated as a ‘political football’.

He said that if the people believed in the country’s leadership as they did in the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Malaysia will be able to weather the current political and economic turmoil.

“Even the 1MDB problem can be solved. We will announce a rationalisation program, but give it a chance to succeed.

“If you keep on attacking it, we’ll be in trouble. Don't allow 1MDB to be a political football; allow 1MDB to be resolved.

“If there is wrongdoing, allow PAC to take appropriate action.

“But don't allow it to be a political football just because you want to change the government or the leadership in the country.

“You can’t, because we are elected by the people. We are democratically elected. For the five years, we will serve the people,” he said.

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