1MDB already under investigation, Arul Kanda tells Tony Pua

1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) president Arul Kanda Kandasamy says the state investment vehicle is already under investigation by a number of authorities. – Reuters pic, July 2, 2015.

1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is already under investigation, Arul Kanda Kandasamy told Tony Pua today after the DAP lawmaker asked why the home minister was going after The Edge and not 1MDB.

Its president and group executive director said he trusted Pua would confirm that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) would investigate all allegations levied against it, including that of the "RM42 billion missing".

"Tony Pua has conveniently ignored to highlight that 1MDB is currently the subject of enquiries by a number of authorities, including the auditor-general, Bank Negara Malaysia, PDRM and last but not least, the PAC, a committee of which Tony Pua himself is a member.

"1MDB is fully cooperating with these enquiries. Accordingly, evidence and proof relating to the company have been and will continue to be shared with these lawful authorities," said Arul in a statement today.

He was responding to Pua's statement early this morning asking why Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was "intimidating" The Edge and not going after 1MDB for allegedly lying about the billions of ringgit of public funds that had gone missing.

"Should not the home minister therefore go after the parties who have lied and misled Malaysians over the missing billions of ringgit of taxpayers’ money?" Pua had said.

"Instead, what we get is the disgraceful behaviour of the ministry doing its utmost to gag and punish those who are public-spirited and acted with integrity to expose the wrongdoings, embezzlement, misappropriation and criminal breach of trust by public officials entrusted with tens of billions of ringgit."

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP added that neither 1MDB, PetroSaudi International (PSI) or businessman Low Taek Jho had provided evidence that the leaked documents published in The Edge and Sarawak Report these past five months had been tampered with.

But 1MDB said it had repeatedly issued clarifications to address allegations made by various parties, including Pua, The Edge and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"1MDB reaffirms its previously stated position that if any wrongdoing is found, then action must be taken by the lawful authorities, as per due process and the laws of our country," said Arul Kanda.

- TMI