RAFIZI WILL HAVE TO PAY IF TRUE HE BROKE OSA, SAYS DEPUTY HOME MINISTER

(Malay Mail Online) – Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohammad said today opposition lawmaker Rafizi Ramli will have to face the music if proven that he released a classified document from the Auditor-General’s report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He added that the police will investigate the case after the Pandan MP allegedly went public with the document that is classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) yesterday.

“Of course he is wrong, it’s the OSA, which has prescribed offence and punishment.

“The police will launch their own investigation now that Rafizi has admitted to giving out OSA documents,” he told reporters outside the Dewan Rakyat.

Those convicted of exposing government secrets can be jailed up to seven years, according to Section 8 of the OSA.

The Pulai MP however did not want to speculate on what kind of charges that Rafizi might face if he broke OSA and instead left it to the police.

“Let them investigate first, we have to make sure it’s under OSA.

“The procedure is you have to verify that it’s under OSA. If it is there, then we will press charges,” Nur Jazlan said.

At the Parliament lobby yesterday, Rafizi claimed to have an excerpt of the Auditor-General’s report on 1MDB to prove that the state investment firm was partly to blame for delays in the Armed Forces Fund Board’s (LTAT) gratuity payments.

Malay Mail Online did not report the matter due to restrictions under the OSA. 

1MDB has since denied denied Rafizi’s allegations.