Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein today welcomed the United States Department of Justice's move to file lawsuits to seize assets purportedly linked to 1MDB.

He said this is because he does not want any innocent individuals victimised by the case.

“Umno is consistent in the 1MDB issue and I am still of the opinion that 1MDB is a serious and important issue that needs to be overcome.

“However, in overcoming the problem, I hope no one who is innocent gets victimised,” said Hishammuddin at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

The US Justice Department on Wednesday filed lawsuits seeking to seize more than US$1 billion in assets bought with funds allegedly siphoned from 1MDB.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak was not named in the suit, and was already cleared of any wrongdoing by attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali in the 1MDB scandal.

The lawsuit, however, does claim that an unnamed individual – ‘Malaysian Official 1’ – received hundreds of millions of dollars in siphoned 1MDB funds.

Hishammuddin said the lawsuits raised the issue of accountability, which he claimed already existed, citing the police's announcement that it probed 20 people in relation to the Public Accounts Committee's report on 1MDB.

"The investigations at the international level, such as in the US, Switzerland and Singapore, will all help us find a solution (for 1MDB).

"And if there are some quarters who want to politicise it, the people can see for themselves their purpose and goals," said Hishammuddin.

He said the public could judge whether those blaming Najib were truly seeking justice or merely playing politics.

He said Malaysia would not stop the US from investigating the case, adding that Najib himself would ensure no one is above the law.

He added that demands for the Umno president to resign were just an opposition ploy, and that they had many other tricks up their sleeve.

“That’s their (opposition) job (asking for Najib to resign). And they will take advantage of any issue in order to politicise them.

“Just look at how they want to have a special parliamentary sitting. Believe me, after this they would want to hold a rally,” he said.