Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low has pledged legal action against the individuals named in the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuits related to 1MDB.
But this is only if it is proven that money was misappropriated from the state investment fund, he said.
"I wish to refer to the recent actions taken by the US Department of Justice based on civil complaints against certain individuals who are Malaysians.
"As these allegations make reference to 1MDB, the government takes the matter very seriously," Low said when delivering his keynote address at a symposium on governance.
"The cases must be viewed on the facts and evidence that have been presented by the investigators.
"Should it be established that funds were taken out from 1MDB, the government will take legal action against the individuals named, or anyone else who is complicit in the scheme to allegedly defraud 1MDB," he pledged.
"The money – if stolen from us – must be recovered in full, and those guilty punished in accordance with our laws and those of the countries where the money was laundered.”
He said the government’s credibility and reputation are in question.
"Therefore appropriate action must be taken against the perpetrators of the crime," he added.
Criminal prosecutions must be instituted and the law must be upheld, he stressed.
"Our enforcement agencies and the attorney-general must cooperate fully with all international agencies to deal with the matter in an appropriate manner in order to allay negative perception and restore the trust and confidence of the people for the government," he said.
The symposium is jointly organised by the Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA) and Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG).
[More to follow]
-Mkini
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