Did Arul Kanda lie about 1MDB? Lip Eng lodges report

DAP's Lim Lip Eng also calls for investigation into any cover-up by high-ranking officers of Bank Negara and the Treasury.

Statements made by Arul Kanda while on a road show have come under question. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: A police report has been lodged against 1MDB chief executive Arul Kanda Kandasamy about whether he had lied when he stated during recent road shows that the company was in sound financial health.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng said that Arul Kanda had gone on a national road tour before the May 9 general election, during which he had said the company was in good shape and could afford to pay its debts.

“But now the Finance Ministry says 1MDB is insolvent. Has he been lying before elections?,” Lim told reporters at the DAP’s service centre. “He owes the people an explanation, as 1MDB is a government-owned investment fund.”

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had described Arul Kanda as being “utterly dishonest and untrustworthy” at a meeting to discuss 1MDB.

Lim Lip Eng said that in his police report he had questioned whether Arul Kanda might have intentionly covered up the truth.

He asked that police action be taken under Sections 202-203 of the Penal Code, which are criminal offences for failing to give information about an offence, or giving false information about an offence committed.

He said he has also urged that the police investigate whether others were involved in any cover-up of the 1MDB scandal.

Police should also investigate high-ranking officers of Bank Negara and the Finance Ministry who had been aware of 1MDB’s losses but did not speak up, he said.

The report was filed at Jinjang police station today. Lim also filed a report urging that investigations be re-opened into the murder of Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu in 2006. -FMT