(Aug 6): With the ringgit in free fall, it would not be a good time for the police to arrest Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akthar Aziz as part of the probe into leaked information on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), said a PKR federal lawmaker.

Kelana Jaya MP Wong Chen said it would be "extremely unwise" for the police to undertake such a move without full transparency and due process, especially at a time when the ringgit is continuously falling against the US dollar.

"The international financial community including powerful rating agencies look upon Governor Zeti as a positive factor in the economy.

"If no transparency and due process are afforded, the market will view this as a politically motivated action. This will send all the wrong messages to the world and will further negatively impact the ringgit," he said in a statement today.

The ringgit has been Asia's worst performer this year, battered by sliding commodity prices and the 1MDB scandal linked to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

It fell to a 17-year low against the US dollar as of August 3, and was trading at RM3.87 against the US dollar today.

Police have detained and questioned several officials from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Attorney-General's Chambers over the leaked information.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar did not discount the possibility that Zeti will be hauled up for questioning to facilitate the police probe into the matter.

Bank Negara has previously denied its officials had leaked banking transaction details.

Pro-Umno bloggers had named both Zeti as well as several high-ranking officials from Bank Negara, MACC and the Attorney-General's Chambers as conspiring to bring down Najib.

Police are investigating the case under Section 124 of the Penal Code for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Wong said the police needed to declare on what grounds Zeti would be investigated on and if it is linked to the so-called conspiracy to remove Najib.

He also urged Najib to reconsider the "witch hunt" against 1MDB's investigators.

"We urge Najib to think about the wider impact on the economy and the rakyat, and stop neglecting the economy at the expense of his own political survival." – The Malaysian Insider