Dr M: We had to act quickly to prevent Najib from leaving the country

PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says his government had to "act quickly" to prevent former premier Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) from leaving the country.

He said this was done due to the many complaints against him.

"We had to act quickly so that we are not saddled by extradition (requests) to other countries," he told a press conference at Menara Yayasan Selangor on Saturday.

Asked if he would order the declassification of the Auditor-General's report on 1MDB under the Official Secrets Act, Dr Mahathir said this must be done.

"The report should be submitted to me. I have to study it in order to revisit it," he said.

He also said that former Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Aziz would not lead the investigation into 1MDB as she was now part of the council of elders.

He said the investigation into 1MDB must be reopened as soon as possible.

"It is a complex matter involving a lot of people and a lot of decisions.

"Our priority is to get back the 1MDB money.

"We will see which report was buried and not buried," he said.- Star