This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on October 24, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has asked why the Attorney-General’s (AG) Chambers is ignoring the recommendation by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to charge 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) over alleged breaches under the Exchange Control Act.

“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 asked yesterday.

The PKR president said she sought to raise this question in Parliament but the Dewan Rakyat Speaker's office rejected this and about 10 other 1MDB-related questions posed by opposition lawmakers, including four by her.

Speaking to reporters, she said BNM had responded to her queries on Sept 28, reiterating that 1MDB had committed an offence under the Financial Services Act.

“I also understand that on Oct 9, 2015, BNM had recommended to the AG’s Chambers to initiate criminal prosecution (against) 1MDB.  It has been two years, yet to this day, no criminal prosecution has been taken against 1MDB. Why isn’t the AG’s Chambers 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 on 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 sought to be 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 wants the prime minister to disclose the lobbying costs allegedly 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,”  she  added.