Most Read
Most Commented
mk-logo
News
Husam urges rulers to order 1MDB audit be made public
Published:  Jul 8, 2016 9:43 AM
Updated: 6:59 AM

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the sultans have been urged to order the declassification of the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB, following an expose on whistleblower website Sarawak Report yesterday.

"Can His Majesty the Agong and the sultans decree they be given a special briefing (on 1MDB) by the Auditor-General’s Office?

"And for a copy of the report be given to them?" asked former PAS vice-president Husam Musa in a statement.

After that, he said, the rulers could order the report to be declassified from the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and order it circulated to the public so the rakyat can read it.

Commenting on Sarawak Report's expose on what it claims as details of the auditor-general’s report, Husam said Malaysians would be "insane" if they were not affected by the revelations.

"How can we enable the country to read the report in an official manner?

"How can we make 'OSA-ing' wrongdoing a crime?" he asked.

Husam said only the rulers can order the release of the report, suggesting even the Johor crown prince has authority to make such a decree, "if the PM truly respects the royal institution and there is no crime that needs to be covered up".

Yesterday Sarawak Report, which has been at the forefront of investigative reports on 1MDB's troubles, claimed it had the classified report in its possession.

The whistleblower site listed out the various concerns that auditor-general Ambrin Buang had allegedly pointed out in his report, especially with regard to several questionable fund transfers, and provided details on these fund transfers.

It said it would publish more details from the report in the coming days.

Exercise powers, rulers urged

Parti Amanah Negara strategy director Dzulkefly Ahmad also echoed Husam's call, saying there is a real need to verify what Sarawak Report has published.

This, he said, is in light of the financial situation 1MDB is facing now, particularly with the US$6.5 billion commitment with International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) that it must settle at the London court for International Arbitration (LCIA) by July 11 "or face bankruptcy".

He added the fact that Prime Minister cum Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is "fully responsible for 1MDB" and who has "conveniently" declared and placed the report under OSA, "places himself in great disrepute, is an understatement".

"Since the matter has come to this, the rakyat now implore that the Council of Rulers to invoke whatever 'reserve-power-that-be' to immediately intervene and save the nation," said the former Kuala Selangor MP.

"Doubtless, the first immediate step by the Council of Rulers must be the insistence that the auditor-general’s report be declassified, as to first verify the authenticity of Sarawak Report's (articles) and many other intriguing issues unaddressed by the recent PAC report."

ADS