'I guarantee no cover-ups in 1MDB probe' - Reezal Merican

Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican has guaranteed that there would be no attempts to hide or cover-up any information on the investigation involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He said, it would be impossible to hide anything as details of the probe received by all members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) were all the same.

“I can give my assurance that our transparency policy does not allow any room for any cover-ups for issues as sensitive as 1MDB. This is because the amount of knowledge that I gained from the interim audit report is the same as what the Opposition gained.

“This means details of the investigation cannot be concealed. Although I am no longer a PAC member, I will still ensure that there will be no distortion of information,” he said after a ‘doa selamat’ event here today, held in light of his Cabinet appointment.

Reezal Merican was commenting on the appointment of four PAC members into Cabinet, including himself, following the reshuffle announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last July 28.

The other three PAC members were former committee chairman, Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed who is now Deputy Home Minister; Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin who is now Deputy Tourism and Culture Minister, and Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau who is now Science, Technology and Innovation Minister.

Reezal Merican said PAC’s 30-member team, whom are all qualified reps made up of both Barisan National and Opposition parliamentarians, will see to it that no one can cast doubt on the committee’s probe into the state development fund.

He added that the investigation on 1MDB can still be continued despite of the appointment of the four into Cabinet.