The special task force set up to conduct a preliminary probe into Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) foreign exchange losses in the 1990s should be given room to do so without prejudice, intimidation or bias.

Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister, said the investigation was important because it involved BNM and huge losses.

He said the investigation was essential to uphold the principle of transparency, accountability and good governance in the national public institutions, specifically BNM.

"The setting up of the task force is an apt move by the government because Gerakan is of the stand that Malaysians have a right to be told the correct facts on the financial scandal.

"This official investigation will comprehensively summarise whether there were elements of corruption, abuse of power and mismanagement in the forex loss by BNM in the 1990s," he said in a statement here on Thursday.

Gerakan remain steadfast that those responsible should be charged and the result of the investigation be used as a guideline to prevent a recurrence of a similar incident, he said.

Yesterday, former Chief Secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan was announced as the head of the special task force to investigate the foreign exchange losses.

Lauding the appointment of Mohd Sidek as the chairman of the special task force, Mah said the appointment was apt because he was a capable figure to lead a complete, thorough and fair investigation on the financial scandal. -- Bernama