Selangor Menteri Besar Mohamed Azmin Ali has joined the chorus of calls for the immediate declassification of the auditor-general's report on 1MDB.

"I call on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to immediately order the declassification of the auditor-general’s report in the interest of transparency, accountability and good governance," Azmin said in a statement today.

He added that failure to do so will only serve to reinforce the belief of a conspiracy at the highest levels to cover up the 1MDB scandal.

His call comes after whistleblower site Sarawak Report published a series of exposes since last week, detailing the contents of what it claimed to be the genuine auditor-general's report.

The report has been classified as secret under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

The revelations have prompted calls from opposition leaders, Najib's critics as well as NGOs, including Transparency-International Malaysia, to declassify the auditor-general's report on the IMDB.

Azmin reminded the government that the OSA is a legislation that is intended to safeguard national security and ensure that sensitive intelligence and other confidential information do not fall into undesirable hands.

However, he pointed out that the auditor-general's findings on 1MDB cannot be justifiably classified within this category of sensitive information.

"Continuing to classify it as such is therefore a blatant abuse of power and executive authority in a manner and degree unprecedented in the history of our nation," Azmin said.

OSA unjustified

Inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar had earlier said the police would investigate the authenticity of the Sarawak Report documents before investigating the website under the OSA.

Azmin said it was regrettable that the authorities have doubled down on their threat to "prosecute for treason" the leaking of the 1MDB report, instead of listening to the rakyat "to do the right thing".

"This is yet another instance of the arrogance of power which is now symptomatic of an administration that considers itself above the law and the requirements of transparency and accountability.

"It should be remembered that exposing the truth of the massive 1MDB scandal is not a political game, but a duty incumbent on all leaders, be they from the government or the opposition.

"Transparency is sunlight, which is said to be the best of disinfectants against corruption and shady dealings," Azmin added.