Najib: Public must not jump to conclusions regarding US DOJ lawsuit

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has given its assurance that it would open its doors to any investigation related to the controversial state-owned firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), including those initiated by international agencies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the public must not jump to conclusions and allow the investigation process to take place, following lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice to seize assets linked to the state investment fund.
Najib added that it has always been the government's stand to not tolerate any actions against the law.
"The government will give its full cooperation to all investigation parties (and) international investigative bodies," he said.
"We are looking at this matter seriously. We do not want any party to assume that the government does not adhere to the principles of good governance.
"Good governance is something that will always be prioritised in Malaysia," he told to reporters after attending a Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at Menara Felda here.
Najib stressed that the suits filed by the DOJ were civil in nature, and not criminal.
He added the court process must first take place before commenting further on the individuals named by the DOJ, including his stepson Riza Aziz and businessman Low Taek Jho or Jho Low.
Asked whether the international revelation would affect bilateral ties between Malaysia and the US, Najib said it was a separate issue.
"This is relating to individual(s). It does not relate to the overall position with respect to policies between the two countries," he said.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Apandi Ali today said the US Justice Department's civil suit to seize assets linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) does not directly link Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to any investigation - locally or abroad.
The AG also expressed his strong concerns at the insinuations and allegations that have been made against the Prime Minister of alleged criminal wrongdoing in relation to the civil action filed by the US DOJ.
"I intend to clarify that at no point in the civil claim filed by the US DOJ is the Prime Minister named as a defendant or have been alleged to have committed any criminal wrongdoing," he said in a statement.
Apandi reiterated that local investigations by multiple agencies did not uncover any criminal activity involving 1MDB and no criminal prosecution has been initiated in any jurisdiction over the same matter.
He added that his office has not received any requests for cooperation from the DOJ, but would welcome any.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said police have since recorded statements from more than 25 people in their investigation with regard to the government investment fund.
Khalid said those who had given statements include former 1MDB Chief Executive Officer Datuk Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi, who did so last month.
He also said that the first phase of the investigation, to scrutinise documents and record the statements of witnesses in the country, had almost been completed.
"The second phase will involve sending police officers abroad to record statements from witnesses and obtain documents there.
"Recording the statements of witnesses takes weeks," Khalid told reporters after closing the Trim & Fit 2016 programme at the Police Training Centre here.