BY ERMIZI MUHAMAD
KUALA LUMPUR, JUL 27: Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament, Tony Pua questioned the existence of a third letter of support involving the 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) liability, issued by Putrajaya without the approval of cabinet ministers.
He said, the former second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan, in a media conference in Parliament on November 12, 2014, had revealed that there were only two letters of support approved by the cabinet ministers.
Pua said, the statement had led to doubts on the actual number of the letter issued by the government to support debts owned by the government-owned company.
“The government responded in 2015 that there were two letters with a value of USD3 billion and USD150 million, however through the lawsuit filed by the America’s Department of Justice, there seemed to be a third letter of support to the Deutsche Bank in September 2014.
“The letter of support were issued to help 1MDB get a loan of USD975 million. This letter of support seemed to be kept a secret from the public,” he said at the media conference in Parliament this morning.
Pua said, by right, a minister should ease the doubts on the existence of the third letter made without the mutual agreement of cabinet ministers.
“The question is simple, the finance minister or prime minister should explain if the third letter in fact, exists. However, in Parliament, the question is rejected on the excuse that it is mere speculation but in reality, I was asking based on facts.
“The minister should just answer yes or no, but he refuse to answer and this will create more doubts on the third letter’s existence,” he said.
Earlier, Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak issued letters of support to international financial agencies for 1MDB liability payments.
It was made to understand that the process in issuing the letter requires cabinet ministers’ mutual consent to proceed with the borrowing process.
Commenting further, Pua said, he will discuss the issue with the former Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
“I will ask Tan Sri Muhyiddin who was in the cabinet before, if it is true that the prime minister issued the letter without mutual consent from all cabinet ministers,” he said.
Letter of support on 1MDB issued without cabinet’s approval?
