1MDB probe committee may take longer than 100 days

KUALA LUMPUR: The committee tasked with investigating 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) may take longer than 100 days to complete its job.

Its Chairman, former attorney-general Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said that the committee had met Ministry of Finance, National Audit Department and Security Commission officials to discuss the matters and exchange views.

“God knows how long it (the investigation) would take. Our committee is only a coordinating investigative team… So, we have to consolidate our action to avoid overlapping investigations.

“It (the probe) can short, it can be longer (than 100 days), depends on the complexity of the matter under investigations,” he told reporters after the committee met here, today.

Abu Talib said it was too early for the 1MDB investigation committee to make any comment as it was now in the phase of exchanging information between all related parties.

“We are exchanging information (at the moment).. that’s all. Our committee is trying to coordinate how best we can resolve the matter as soon as possible,” he added.

Set up by the Council of Eminent Persons, the committee also includes PwC Risk Assurance Services Partner Nik Shahrizal Sulaiman, Naqiz Partners Senior Partner Syed Naqiz Shahabuddin Syed Abdul Jabbar, Financial Services Authority Indonesia Senior Adviser Faris Rabidin, and Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism Director and Founder Cynthia Gabriel.

The primary focus of the committee is to ensure that Malaysia is able to secure convictions on all the wrongdoings related to 1MDB and to maximise the recovery of all assets traceable to 1MDB.

Meanwhile, the special taskforce investigating 1MDB is jointly led by former attorney-general Tan Sri Gani Patail, former Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, current MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, and  former Special Branch deputy director Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador. – Bernama