1MDB: 'Innocent until proven guilty'

1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) applauded the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw on his advice that one should not say things based on hearsay without seeking evidence first.

In a statement on Wednesday, the government investment company regarded Dr Tan's advice as timely and wise.

"1MDB welcomes this profound advice of the eight-term MP for Kepong as timely and wise, to seek proof before making accusations and to uphold the rule of law, that one is innocent until proven guilty," said 1MDB.

Dr Tan on Tuesday had brushed off a call for the authorities to investigate every PAC member, asking them to provide him evidence or else stop from making unproven accusations.

The DAP-Kepong MP was referring to a statement by UMNO Youth Exco member, Armand Azha Abu Hanifah who accused PAC for leaking confidential documents.

Although supporting the advice, 1MDB had urged Dr Tan to demand a full and transparent enquiry on how confidential PAC documents landed in the laps of a foreign publication.

The company also said it expects Dr Tan to prescribe the same advice to his junior, Tony Pua (DAP-Petaling Jaya), who had issued another 'unproven allegation' on 1MDB.

"YB Tony Pua's claim to fame is recycling unproven allegations on 1MDB. He waits for an unproven and sensationalist allegation to be made, then piggyback on these allegations by repeating the same questions," said the statement.

1MDB also said that Pua often ignores facts and answers when they are given, and changes the topic and waits quietly for the next sensationalist and unproven allegation.

This morning, in a report by The Malaysian Insider, Pua had question whether the US$1 billion payment by 1MDB to Abu Dhabi was fraudulent.

However, 1MDB said it was confident that Dr Tan "will do the right thing" by demanding explanation on the leaked documents.