(June 4): Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar today urged critics to allow the special task force investigating 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to do their jobs without interference.

Khalid, however, refused to divulge any information regarding the probe, pointing out that he was not the spokesperson for the unit.

"I don't want to speak on behalf of the task force. I am not their spokesperson but I just want to confirm that the investigation is being carried out. So I don't want to give out any details of the investigation.

"This is because if I divulge details of the investigation, it will disrupt the task force's probe," he said, when asked about the progress of the investigations into 1MDB at the Police Training Centre in Kuala Lumpur today.

The IGP said the case has been classified as a commercial crime, which rendered the process of the investigation different from criminal offences.

"You have to understand, in commercial cases such as this, we do not arrest first and then investigate. We have to investigate it first and then only make the arrest if needed.

"Let us do our jobs. When we find something, then the task force will act."

The ongoing probe is being conducted by a special joint task force between the police, the Attorney-General Chambers and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.

He had said that the task force will get to the bottom of allegations of discrepancies and misappropriation of funds involving the government-owned strategic investment vehicle.

1MDB has been embroiled in controversy over its financial dealings and debts, with many questioning whether public funds had been misused, in the wake of claims that the company's financial position has been deteriorating, with total debts amounting to RM42 billion.

Meanwhile, Bank Negara Malaysia yesterday said it has launched a formal inquiry to investigate if 1MDB had indeed breached the central bank’s rules and legislation.

BNM added it is also taking statements from individuals involved in the governance process and obtaining information from other relevant domestic and foreign parties.

Currently, the Auditor-General is looking through 1MDB's books, with a preliminary report expected to be submitted to the Parliament in June, while the Public Accounts Committee started its own investigation into the company on May 19. – The Malaysian Insider