The findings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) must be given serious attention by its management, the government and the relevant agencies, said Umno information chief Annuar Musa.

He said follow-up investigations must be carried out on any wrongdoings, "without fear or favour" and the resignation of the board of directors must be accepted so that the investigations could be made without prejudice or hindrance and tighter monitoring methods implemented.

"Recommendations that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak need not be involved in the Advisory Board should also be given attention," he said in a statement in commenting on the 1MDB Governance Management Control Report tabled by the PAC yesterday in the Dewan Rakyat.

Among others, the 106-page PAC report on 1MDB recommended that the authorities investigate the company's former chief executive officer Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi and other related parties.

Annuar said the auditor-general's report (sic) as well as the PAC report released yesterday should exonerate 1MDB of all accusations that RM42 billion had disappeared and RM 2.6billion was deposited into Najib's personal account.

"However, it cannot be denied that like other companies, there is a possibility that there were management and business issues which should not have been connected to Najib as it was impossible for him to know the day-to-day operations of the company," he said.

Annuar said hopefully IMDB will continue to grow and expand without being harassed by those with vested interests, especially people who want to take advantage of the situation by creating issues for their own political aims.

"We must express our highest gratitude to the management of the 1MDB for their success in managing the company at a time when it was being lambasted by various parties, surely making it difficult for the management and affecting the reputation of the company," he said.

He said as a company which began with government capital of only RM1 million, 1MDB was now prepared to emerge as a strategic investment company with high potential.

In George Town, former PAC member Reezal Merican Naina Merican said the people should accept the findings because the body was non-partisan and made up of both backbenchers and opposition MPs.

The deputy foreign minister and Kepala Batas MP said its credibility should not be questioned and to continue to link 1MDB issues to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was being irresponsible and an act of desperation.

"Issues of accountability and problems regarding 1MDB lies with its management and not other parties. The prime minister was in no way involved and it is time Malaysians put this issue behind," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Putatan MP Dr Marcus Mojigoh in a statement said the comprehensive PAC report had answered with finality the controversies surrounding 1MDB.

"Even though it was a difficult task, having to go through piles of documents and transactions and numerous interviews, the main objective was achieved, that is to seek the answers," he said.

- Bernama