KUALA LUMPUR (March 13): Opposition lawmaker Tony Pua has questioned whether 1MDB lied about the ownership of a company to which it paid US$1.03 billion, after a leaked letter by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) revealed a different story.

A letter by BNM to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) dated April 6, 2016 allegedly confirmed financier Low Taek Jho (Jho Low) as the beneficial owner of Good Star Ltd, which received the funds from 1MDB, Pua told the media at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He recalled as to how both 1MDB and the Auditor General have confirmed 1MDB transferred some US$1.03 billion (RM4.2 billion) to a Swiss bank account owned by Good Star Ltd between 2009 and 2011.

“Contrary to 1MDB’s previous statement, the company [Good Star] is not owned by 1MDB’s first joint venture partner Petrosaudi International Ltd,” Pua said. 

Recall on May 6, 2016, the Ministry of Finance said in a written reply in the parliament that Good Star was owned by Petrosaudi when it received the funds from 1MDB.

On March 7, 2018, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Fuzi Harun said in a statement that Low never worked for 1MDB, nor did he make any business decision for the company.

“In this letter, BNM revealed it has received voluntary information from two unnamed foreign authorities which have proven that Good Star Ltd is owned by Jho Low,” Pua said. 

The letter did not describe in detail, the tenure of Low’s ownership of Good Star Ltd — but stated that there is no change to the Good Star’s ‘beneficial ownership’ status.

“Has the Inspector General Tan Sri Fuzi Harun investigated the letter and found whether BNM lied and delivered false evidence [during the 1MDB investigation]? Or did Tan Sri Fuzi issue a false statement to protect Jho Low?” Pua asked.