Following reports that charges against former private banker Yeo Jiawei is related to SRC International, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli has urged that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak take an extended leave until the investigations are done.

This is to prevent Malaysia from being exposed to any risk related to the bilateral relationship between Malaysia and Singapore, where the case might involve fund transfers related to the Malaysian prime minister, he explained.

“This is the first time solid proof has been presented which links the funds from 1MDB and SRC International, a subsidiary of 1MDB which took on a debt of RM4 billion from Employees Provident Fund (EPF) before its ownership was transferred to the Ministry of Finance Inc.

“Any fund transfers in and out of SRC International is sensitive, because there are funds from this company which has ultimately ended up in Najib's personal accounts,” Rafizi said.

Singapore-based Today Online reported yesterday that Yeo has been charged with facilitating the transfer of US$11.95 million (RM48 million) from SRC International to Affinity Equity International Partners, a company owned by Tan Kim Loong.

It was previously reported by the Wall Street Journal that Tan was the beneficiary owner of Tanore Finance when it was first set up, the same British Virgin Islands entity that sent US$681 million to Najib’s personal bank accounts.

As such, Rafizi said that this new development means that Singapore is currently charging a banker who might have handled funds which might be linked to the prime minister.

“This opens up Najib to speculation because the direction taken by the Singapore investigations in this case might have a direct and indirect effect on Najib’s position as prime minister,” he added.

Rafizi also said that Najib and the cabinet should form a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to thoroughly investigate the 1MDB scandal to clear his name, and added that the RCI proceedings should be held openly.

“The 1MDB scandal takes on a new dimension when it involves the credibility of the prime minister in executing his responsibilities properly due to risks which might arise following the prosecution in Singapore,” he said.