1MDB: Practise what you preach

Media statement by 1Malaysia Development Berhad

Issued on 10 September 2015
For immediate publication

“Practise what you preach”

1MDB is disappointed to note the admission by Public Accounts Committee (PAC) member YB Tony Pua that he introduced discredited journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown to Datuk Tong Kooi Ong and Ho Kay Tat of The Edge media group. We further note media reports that YB Tony Pua has not denied knowledge that Clare Rewcastle-Brown was dealing with stolen goods.

In a statement today, YB Tony Pua urged 1MDB to “come clean” on the bond arrangements and guarantee by Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC). We remind YB Tony Pua that the key terms of the bond and the IPIC guarantee are contained in the notes to the 1MDB audited accounts dated 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014. These are publicly available documents. 1MDB had also provided a detailed answer to the Wall Street Journal report on 9 September 2015, defended its audited accounts and confirmed that it cannot comment on nor have knowledge of, the accounting arrangements of third parties such as IPIC or Aabar.

However, YB Tony Pua is quick to respond to detailed answers with even more questions. One can only conclude he is not at all interested in the answers. We note media reports quoting IGP Tan Sri Mohd Khalid Abu Bakar as saying, in relation to YB Tony Pua, that the police had opened an investigation paper under Section 120 of the Penal Code to probe alleged attempts to topple the government. The IGP is quoted as saying "Mind you, we do not investigate based on newspaper reports… (but) this was what he (Pua) had actually said. As such, we need to call him (in) again. He (Pua) himself had admitted that he had left out a few things when he was first called in. He could have forgotten then. Now only he remembered. So we will call him in.”

We hope YB Tony Pua will “come clean” with his answers to the police.

1MDB has consistently maintained that the appropriate forum to share information is to the lawful authorities investigating 1MDB, including the PAC. It would appear that YB Tony Pua, notwithstanding his role in the PAC, wants to be judge, jury and executioner for 1MDB.

1MDB is disappointed to hear of the alleged actions by YB Tony Pua. Whilst we have had differences of opinion with him, we respected his tenacity and focus. Now that YB Tony Pua is under investigation by the police, we urge YB Tony Pua to practise what he preaches to others and step down from the PAC, while he proves his innocence on the various allegations made against him.