Dewan Rakyat speaker wants Najib to explain 1MDB remarks

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has been asked to explain to the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday his remarks on 1MDB during last week's debate which were said to have misled the august House.

Dewan Rakyat Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun said he had written a letter to Najib (above), who is Pekan MP, to seek clarification on the matter and asked him to reply.

“I have written to YB Pekan to ask for clarification, as well as the finance minister on what transpired on that day and I am waiting for an answer.

“I asked him (Najib) to provide an explanation this Wednesday, but I don’t know if he can (or not) give an explanation that day, I don’t know,” he said.

Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun

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Azhar said this in response to a question from RSN Rayer (Pakatan Harapan-Jelutong) who stood up during the debate session on the motion of thanks for the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today to seek feedback on Tony Pua’s (Harapan-Damansara) motion that Najib be referred to the Parliamentary Rights and Privileges Committee under Standing Order 36 (12) of the Dewan Rakyat over the remarks.

Pua had submitted the motion following Najib’s speech in the Dewan Rakyat on March 2 which was said to contain statements that allegedly misled the House on the 1MDB debt issue and could be construed as insulting to the House of Representatives.

Najib had said in Dewan Rakyat when debating the royal address that no public funds have been used to pay off 1MDB debts.

However, his statement was refuted by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and former finance minister Lim Guan Eng.

Najib is currently facing multiple court cases involving the 1MDB scandal and has been convicted of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and money laundering.

He has been sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million, but he is appealing the sentence at the Federal Court.

- Bernama