Hisham wants 1MDB to appoint another international audit firm

The board of directors of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) have been urged to appoint another independent international audit firm to check, verify and reveal to the public the value of all its assets, liabilities as well as status of its investment portfolio and cash flow.

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the audit firm should also perform a forensic audit on all 1MDB's transactions since its inception to help the company answer all issues raised.

"I am confident that the results of the independent audit firm and the Auditor General's investigations will be able to help convince the people of the financial status of the investment firm," he said in a statement, Saturday.

Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister said the process to find out 1MDB's actual financial position should be quick and not wait for the findings of the Auditor General.

"In this context, I urge the Auditor-General to immediately submit the report and extend it to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC)," he said.

1MDB issues continue to be in the news following the latest report on the purchase made by Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) on a plot of land in the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) financial district, owned by 1MDB and valued at RM188.5 million.

Tabung Haji today said that it intended to sell the land at TRX and so far had received three bids from interested parties.

Its chairman, Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim told a press conference here that the purchase of the 0.66 hectares of land was a commercial decision and not for 'bailout' purpose or to rescue 1MDB.

Hishammuddin said the government should answer all questions raised to counter negative perceptions on the investment firm.

In Alor Setar, Kedah UMNO Youth urged for an audit to be conducted on the purchase of the 1MDB owned land in TRX by Tabung Haji to ensure no further issues would be raised after this.

Its leader, Datuk Shaiful Hazizy Zainol Abidin said matters on transparency, good governance and management of financial resources were of interest to youth groups.

It is not fair if UNMO Youth were to be blamed if support among youths deteriorated as they too could not answer issues which are beyond their knowledge, he said in a statement today.

In Melaka, Puteri UMNO leader Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said risk management issues should be discussed in advance before deciding on any deals involving public funds.

Tabung Haji should be more sensitive from the very beginning, even though it was reported to have received three bids from interested parties.

"While it is deemed to be beneficial to the people in the long term, we do not want to have any regrets later on. Do not repeat this act again as the people's support for Barisan Nasional (BN) will be affected," she told reporters, Saturday.