KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 23): Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail today questioned the integrity of the Attorney General's Chambers with regards to Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) recommendation to initiate criminal prosecution against 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) for breaches under the Exchange Control Act two years ago.
Wan Azizah raised the matter at a press conference after the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's office rejected at least 10 1MDB-related questions posed by opposition members of parliament, including four by Wan Azizah.
"I would like to know why the attorney general has not initiated charges under the Exchange Control Act 1953 on 1MDB, as recommended by BNM, after BNM had imposed the RM115.8 million fine on 1MDB under the Financial Services Act 2013," Wan Azizah said.
The PKR president said BNM had responded to her queries on Sept 28, reiterating that 1MDB had committed an offence under the Financial Services Act and was slapped with a compound totalling RM115.8 million.
"I also understand that on Oct 9, 2015, BNM had recommended the Attorney General's Chambers to initiate criminal prosecution towards 1MDB.
"It has been two years, yet to this day, no criminal prosecution has been taken against 1MDB. Why is the Attorney General's Chambers not acting based on BNM's recommendation?"
Wan Azizah also questioned the finance minister on the progress of 1MDB's compliance with BNM's instructions to repatriate investments worth US$1.83 billion (RM7.8 billion), which came at the heels of BNM's revocation of three permits for the company to invest outside Malaysia.
"Thirdly, I would like to know if the prime minister discussed the 1MDB-related assets seized by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) during his recent meeting with US President Donald Trump. If he did not, then why? These assets belong to Malaysia so if they are with the DOJ, please return it back to us," she said.
Wan Azizah also requested the prime minister to disclose the lobbying costs incurred by the government for the meeting with Trump, and how much was forked out on the Malaysian delegation's accommodation at the Trump International Hotel in Washington DC in September.
"I just read news reports that even the Singaporean Prime Minister (Lee Hsien Loong) is putting up at the Blair House as a guest of the United States. So why did our own prime minister stay at the Trump Hotel, which was paid for by the Malaysian government?"
"We are quite disappointed after being informed that my questions were rejected. This is a repetition of previous Dewan Rakyat sessions whereby almost 30 questions raised by members of Parliament relating to the 1MDB scandal had been rejected, with reasons that are unreasonable," Wan Azizah said.