US not investigating PM Najib - Salleh

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said today the United States Department of Justice statement issued Wednesday clearly stated that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was not under investigation by the US authorities.

"It (the investigation) has nothing to do with Najib. The investigation is on money laundering by three individuals," he told reporters after opening the Pacific Asia Communication Association (Paca) convention at Universiti Putra Malaysia here.

He said US Attorney-General Loretta Lynch clearly stated that they were only investigating three individuals named in the statement released by the Department of Justice.

"It was very clear, I think the Attorney-General of the US was very clear in the statement that they're not investigating anybody but the three individuals," he said.

Salleh also dismissed claims of an international conspiracy against Malaysia following the reports of the US authorities' action related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

"What conspiracy? They are doing their job. When there is a report, they handle it based on the laws and regulations of their country.

"Our job here is to explain the situation. As far as we are concerned, in Malaysia, we have been handling the 1MDB issue quite well. We have allowed people to have their views," said Salleh.

Salleh said the US authorities were investigating whether money laundering had occurred that was related to their banking system since the transaction had occurred in that country.

"They have to make sure money laundering did not happen as it involves various other countries as far as the transaction is concerned.

"I think they are worried of the banking system in the US and they are looking at that angle. Let them investigate," he said.

Salleh also said that the Malaysian Government had nothing to hide regarding what had been done in 1MDB since the Public Accounts Committee had completed its investigation.

"For us, there is nothing to hide. As far as 1MDB is concerned, we have the PAC report, we have deliberated on that matter and action will be taken based on the PAC report," he said.

Meanwhile, when asked on the 'Malaysia Official 1' stated in the Department of Justice statement, Salleh said it was merely a claim by the complainant.

"We have been hearing about it a long time ago. It is what the complainant said. You must remember it is not what the attorney-general said.

"The complainant said it, but they have concluded they want to investigate three individuals only," said Salleh.

In a statement released earlier today, Salleh said 1MDB had been the subject of unprecedented politically-motivated attacks with the objective to unseat a democratically-elected head of government.

He said any claims relating to 1MDB must be treated with caution, follow due legal process and adhere to the principle of 'innocent until proven guilty'.