1MDB committee formed: Ex-AG Abu Talib leads five-member team

A committee has been formed to “look into matters” related to the 1MDB scandal, announced the Council of Eminent Persons this evening.

In a press statement, the council said it recognises the importance of having a separate committee to look into 1MDB matters.

"Until and unless the issue of 1MDB is resolved, there will be questions that undermine public confidence in the government and its institutions," said the council.

The 1MDB committee will be made up of five members, led by former attorney-general Abu Talib Othman. The other members include:

• Nik Shahrizal Sulaiman: Partner in risk assurance services, PricewaterhouseCoopers;
• Syed Naqiz Shahabuddin Syed Abdul Jabbar: Senior partner, Naqiz & Partners;
• Faris Rabidin: Senior advisor, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan Indonesia (the Indonesian financial services authority); and
• Cynthia Gabriel: Founder of the Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4).

However, the council did not state the 1MDB committee's terms of reference.

It cannot be ascertained if the committee would be summoning witnesses and making recommendations to the relevant authorities based on its findings.

Malaysiakini is attempting to gather more details on the committee's tasks and scope. -Mkini