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KUALA LUMPUR – Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun today said a decision will be made soon on whether former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would be referred to Parliament’s rights and privileges committee for allegedly misleading statements on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) fiasco.
Earlier this month, Tony Pua (Damansara-PH) filed a motion to censure Najib (Pekan-BN), who said while debating the royal address that not a single sen was spent from the government’s coffers to repay the principal for 1MDB’s loans.
Azhar said he is currently waiting for Pua to respond to a written explanation submitted by Najib, to make sure all the necessary information is properly scrutinised as the case is complicated and involves specific details.
“I went through Pekan’s explanation, which itself was very lengthy, and then I sat with Damansara and had given time to Damansara to explain,” Azhar told Parliament, referring to Najib and Pua by their constituencies.
“An explanation was even made by the Finance Ministry, and I will give copies of that to Pekan and Damansara so that they are aware of what was said, and once I receive a response from Damansara, I will make a decision.”
Najib was two years ago found guilty on seven charges of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money laundering of RM42 million linked to SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of the scandal-ridden sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
The former prime minister is currently facing a separate trial for allegedly obtaining bribes and money laundering involving RM2.28 billion in 1MDB funds.
Najib has denied all wrongdoing, and is appealing his conviction in the SRC case. – The Vibes, March 21, 2022
