PM agrees to formation of 1MDB special task force

KUALA LUMPUR: A special task force is being formed to investigate the financial scandal of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the Prime Minister’s Office ( PMO) announced in a statement yesterday.

According to the statement, the task force would be jointly led by former Attorney- General Tan Sri Gani Patail, former chief commissioner of Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission ( MACC) Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, former deputy director of Bukit Aman Special Branch Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador and the new MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull.

“The Prime Minister has agreed to the formation of 1MDB task force to carry out detailed investigations, detection and seizure of assets, as well as prosecution against individuals who commit any criminal offence in the management of 1MDB,” the statement said.

The task force would comprise personnel from the MACC, Attorney- General’s Chambers, Royal Malaysia Police, Bank Negara Malaysia, as well as several lawyers with expertise in the matters involved.

The PMO explained that the task force would be responsible for the overall aspects of the investigations, fi nancial tracking and asset acquisition which resulted from the mismanagement and misappropriation of 1MDB funds that are kept or invested locally and abroad.

The task force would also be responsible for obtaining cooperation from various enforcement agencies in the United States, Switzerland, Singapore, Canada and other relevant countries.

“The government hopes the formation of the special task force involving various enforcement agencies will be able to restore the dignity of the country which has been tainted, and return the Malaysian people’s money and assets following the kleptocracy scandal resulting from mismanagement and misappropriation of 1MDB funds,” the statement added.