Murad centre of media attention

PUTRAJAYA: The presence of former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) assistant governor Datuk Abdul Murad Khalid, at the proceedings of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the central bank’s foreign exchange losses in the 1990s at the Palace of Justice (POJ) here yesterday, attracted the attention of the media.

Seeing Murad leaving the waiting room and going to the toilet and during lunch time at the POJ cafeteria, local and foreign media members ran after him for comments.

However, he declined, until after he had testified before the commission.

Murad arrived about 9am and appeared before the commission for about two hours after proceedings resumed about 2pm.

He was the third person to appear before the RCI yesterday.

Prior to that, former BNM Accounts Department manager Abdul Aziz Abdul Manaf and BNM former internal auditor Datuk Ahmad Hizzad Baharuddin testified.

In an interview with the media in January, Murad claimed that the losses incurred by the central bank in foreign exchange in 1991 to 1993 were far higher than the amount reported.

On July 15, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong gave his approval for the formation of a commission to inquire into forex losses incurred by BNM in the 1990s, based on the Commissions of Enquiry Act.

The commission, comprising seven members, is chaired by Petronas chairman Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan.

Assisting Sidek are High Court judge Datuk Wira Kamaludin Md Said, Bursa Malaysia chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tajuddin Atan, Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (Pemudah) cochairman Tan Sri Saw Choo Boon and Malaysian Institute of Accountants member K. Puspanathan.

The commission’s secretary is Datuk Dr Yusof Ismail, who is director of Strategic Investment Division under the Finance Ministry. Bernama