KUALA LUMPUR (March 4): The auditor-general classified the final report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) 1972 in light of information leaks on its interim report submitted last July, Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said today.

PAC chairman Datuk Hasan Arifin said the committee would abide by the act regarding the final 1MDB report presented today, adding that it was "understandable" that the document had been placed under the OSA.

"The auditor-general has the legal power to do so to protect the credibility and integrity of the audit department.

"The decision to place it under OSA was made following the leak of information in the interim audit report on 1MDB that was presented to the PAC last July – leaks that were made by irresponsible parties who did so selectively to spark negative reports that have jeopardised the credibility of the audit department and of this committee itself," Hasan said in a statement this afternoon.

Hasan said it would be up to the auditor-general to decide whether to lift the OSA declaration on the final 1MDB report, and only after the PAC tabled its findings on the matter to the Dewan Rakyat.

The lower house of representatives is to hold its first meeting of the year on Monday for a month.

The PAC met today to receive the report from the auditor-general, and will continue hearing his presentation on Monday.

"The PAC will study the final report together with the findings of 10 proceedings conducted so as to complete the PAC's report on the audit into 1MDB before tabling it to the Dewan Rakyat.

"After the PAC's report is tabled, it will be up to the auditor-general to decide if the official secrets order on the final report on 1MDB should be lifted," Hasan said.

He also said the people should have confidence in the PAC's findings as the committee was bipartisan.

The PAC meeting today was off-limits to the media except for state broadcaster RTM.

The submission of the auditor-general's final report marks a full year since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak ordered it after furore over the Finance Ministry-owned firm's massive debts of RM42 billion, which it is now trying to repay through a restructuring exercise.