Is Arul Kanda pre-empting audit report, asks Pua

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua has flayed 1MDB president and CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy for supposedly pre-empting the auditor-general's report on the company.

He questioned Arul Kanda for appearing to know the contents of the report, even though it is still classified under the Official Secrets Act 1972.

The DAP parliamentarian insinuated that Arul may be worried about the contents of the report, and is thus relying on the BN-dominated Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to reject the report's findings.

“In the past, Arul Kanda has used the fact that the auditor-general's investigation is proof that 1MDB and the government are transparent and have nothing to hide. Why is Arul Kanda now attempting to cast doubt on the integrity and accuracy of the completed AG’s Report?

“Instead, Arul Kanda should tell Malaysians if he has cooperated fully with the auditor-general to ensure that the auditor-general had access to all necessary documents to complete its findings, especially on bank statements of its overseas subsidiaries,” said Pua in a statement today.

During an interview with bfm radio yesterday morning, Arul Kanda had expressed confidence that the PAC would not rely solely on the audit report's findings when it compiles its own report.

Pua himself is an opposition member of the PAC, which comprises of nine BN parliamentarians and five opposition parliamentarians.

The committee, which is chaired by BN's Rompin MP Hasan Arifin, is conducting its own investigations into the 1MDB scandal.

The audit report has already been tabled to the PAC as part of the committee's investigations, but it would remain classified until it is presented in the Dewan Rakyat.

“What I can say on the general terms is that the auditor-general’s report is very detailed, comprehensive, and professional.

“I am sure the PAC report will reflect all the findings PAC has made, not just based on the auditor-general’s report, but also on the interviews and the additional information PAC obtained,” Pua said.

1MDB's 'twist and turn'

The 1MDB top gun had also lamented on air that people don't listen to the company's explanations of the scandal because facts are 'boring' in comparison to 'sexy' but baseless allegations being made by politicians.

However, Pua said 1MDB has not replied to the allegations against it unequivocally, but has chosen instead to 'twist and turn' and claim to be a victim of a conspiracy against 1MDB and Malaysia.

“If he has failed to submit even simple bank statements which demonstrates the money trail of 1MDB’s funds, then he is obviously lying to Malaysians when blamed Malaysians for not trusting explanations from the state-owned fund 'because the facts are boring” while the 'baseless allegations' made by politicians are 'sexy', he said, referring to other issues that require explanation.

Bank Negara Malaysia governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz had previously told reporters that the central bank was pursuing enforcement action against 1MDB for not submitting bank statements to substantiate its reasons for not repatriating a US$1.83 billion (RM7.5 billion) funds parked overseas.

The central bank had revoked three permissions to 1MDB to invest the money abroad in August last year and told the company to repatriate the funds but 1MDB replied that this could not be done because the money had already been utilised.

Zeti then said in the following month that Bank Negara would validate 1MDB's claim.

1MDB had then said that it has yet to receive any official correspondence from the central bank on the matter and pledged to cooperate with the bank. -Mkini