(July 21): The Attorney-General (A-G) cannot keep mum on investigations by the special task force into debt ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) as it risked being seen as a mere charade to deflect people's concerns, DAP said today.

Its legal bureau chief Gobind Singh Deo said Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail should reveal to the public what the task force has done so far and the scope of its probe.

In a statement today, Gobind told the A-G to provide a time frame for the task force to complete its probe.

"Failure to do this will strengthen current views that this whole exercise is nothing more than a charade put into place to deflect concerns over complaints made in respect of matters surrounding 1MDB and that ultimately nothing will really come of it despite the gravity of the allegations involved."

As such, Gobind said silence was not an option for Gani and urged him to speak up given that the latest concerns were over the possibility that the funds were used for political purposes and fabrication of documents.

The Puchong MP’s statement comes as a construction and property development company director, who was arrested yesterday by the special task force investigating 1MDB funds, was remanded for four days by the Putrajaya magistrate’s court this morning.

Gobind also said that the lack of specific and detailed responses from the task force will work against it in terms of public confidence and credibility.

"It leaves us guessing. Some even ask if the special task force is capable or efficient as it keeps silent.

“Generally, no one knows for sure where the task force is headed with this probe."

The special task force comprising the A-G, Bank Negara governor, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police was set up to investigate claims by The Wall Street Journal that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB before ending up in Najib's personal accounts.

The paper cited investigation documents from an ongoing Malaysian probe.

The prime minister and his office have denied the allegation, calling it political sabotage.

Najib also blames former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of working with foreign agents to attack his administration. – The Malaysian Insider