Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin says agencies investigating 1MDB should be allowed to do their jobs without interference. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, August 7, 2015.The authorities who are investigating 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) should not be disturbed by any other agencies, Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today.
The former deputy prime minister said that enforcement agencies must be respected and should be allowed to perform their duties independently.
"When the government formed this special task force to deal with 1MDB, it comprised Bank Negara, the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Attorney-General.
“These are institutions that have been in place since independence.
"They are doing their jobs well. They must be given freedom like what has been agreed upon. Do not interfere, let them do their jobs the way they want to," he said while launching the Puteri, Youth and Wanita wing meetings at Umno Pagoh today.
"While the authorities are in the process of investigating this case, I was fired.
“But it's okay, I am a small man. But then there is MACC and the police. When it reached MACC, I was very disappointed," he said, referring to the recent spate of MACC office raids by the police.
He said agencies investigating 1MDB should not be raiding each other but should instead talk.
"Have respect among agencies. Meet the bosses. Talk it out.
“You want to investigate with decorum. Don't do it until it causes people's anger," he said.
He expressed surprise over the raids, noting that MACC had expressed its disappointment and that agency officers were upset that some of their colleagues’ homes were raided as well.
Seven MACC officials were picked up for questioning since last weekend, as police focused on leaked information on 1MDB which is at the centre of an investigation over alleged financial irregularities.
The police action followed The Wall Street Journal's (WSJ) report last month citing documents from Malaysian investigators which showed that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) had been deposited in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal bank accounts.
Najib has denied taking 1MDB funds for personal use, but has not directly addressed the fund transfers.
On Monday, MACC confirmed the existence of the huge sum, but said it came from a Middle Eastern donor and not from 1MDB.
MACC did not reveal the identity of the donor, but said it would ask Najib to provide an explanation for the donation.
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low criticised the police for acting in a high-handed manner in their raids and arrests of MACC officers.
Low, who is in charge of governance and integrity, said such action would negatively impact the country, both locally and abroad.
Muhyiddin's successor and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said today that police were only investigating leaks in the probe on 1MDB, not targeting MACC.
- TMI
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