Public Accounts Committee deputy chairperson Wong Kah Woh must lodge a police report over his claims that the Auditor-General Department's report on 1MDB was "tampered with," lawyers told Malaysiakini today.

Criminal lawyer Baljit Singh Sidhu said Wong's allegation, if true, includes elements of possible forgery, cheating or even violation of the Official Secrets Act 1972.

"This is a very serious allegation by Wong. A first step is to lodge a police report to set the motion for a criminal investigation to begin.

"If the person does not lodge a police report, then it makes a mockery of the whole allegation being made," said Baljit, who is a member of the Malaysian Bar Criminal Law committee.

Lawyer N Surendran said if Wong's claim were true, then authorities could initiate investigations under Section 192 of the Penal Code for fabricating false evidence and/or Section 201 for causing the disappearance of evidence to screen an offender.

Read more: There was no 'tampering' - Ambrin stands by 1MDB audit report

An offence under Section 192 may result in a jail term of up to seven years and a fine. Jail terms prescribed under Section 201, meanwhile, range from a maximum of three to 10 years, depending on the nature of the offence.

Surendran said that Section 218 of the Penal Code may also apply in this case as well. The title for Section 218 reads: "Public servant framing an incorrect record or writing with intent to save a person from punishment, or property from forfeiture".

A person convicted under Section 218 can be jailed up to three years, fined or both.

Yesterday, Wong dropped a bombshell in the Dewan Rakyat when he claimed that the audit report was "tampered with." 

When approached by Malaysiakini later, Wong said he was unable to shed details, according to the Standing Orders.

Former auditor-general Ambrin Buang has dismissed Wong's claim, and said he stood by the report.