Defence minister wants international audit firm to probe 1MDB

PETALING JAYA: Defence Mi­nister Datuk Seri Hisham­muddin Hussein has called for an international independent auditing firm be appointed to probe 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) although the company is already being investigated by the Auditor-General.

He said in addition to revealing all of 1MDB assets and liabilities, the status of its investment portfolio and cash flow to the public, the auditing firm should also carry out a forensic audit on all the company's transactions since its inception.

Hishamuddin, who is also Umno vice-president, said this would help to address public concerns over a RM188.5mil (S$69.7 million) land deal between 1MDB and Tabung Haji in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).

"We need to speed up the process to determine the financial status of 1MDB. We shouldn't just wait for the Auditor-General's report," he said.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan agreed with Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's view that time had changed and the people were more concerned about national issues than local development.

He said the people now hoped for an honest and corruption-free representative and not just one, who could bring basic amenities and development to the neighbourhood.

On Friday, Muhyiddin was reported to have said that the failure of Barisan Nasional to answer questions raised by the rakyat about 1MDB and GST was one of the factors for the defeat in the Permatang Pauh by-election.