By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
The Malaysian central bank says it has completed an investigation into under-fire state-owned firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and shared all information it has on the alleged donation of 2.6 billion Ringgit into the private accounts of Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The bank had been under pressure to reveal all after questions were raised as to how so much money could end up in the PM's accounts without the bank noticing.
Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz told a press meeting after announcing Malaysia's second quarter economic results on Thursday that it had included recommendations of appropriate action in both cases.
"Bank Negara has done its investigation on 1MDB, related to those areas under its purview and legislation. The probe was completed this week and the papers have been submitted to the Attorney-General," she said.
A Wall Street Journal report had claimed that RM2.6 billion from the debt-ridden state investment arm had ended up in the prime minister's personal accounts, only for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to rule that the money was from personal donations, and not 1MDB.
The bank was just one of four bodies investigating 1MDB, under a disbanded special task force.
Others were the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
The governor has been under pressure to resign due to her and the bank's role in a task force investigating a money trail linked to debt-ridden 1MDB.
Opponents have been highly critical of what they see as a failure of the central bank to sound an alarm over the huge deposits paid into Razak's accounts in 2013.
"I will certainly remain in office until my term ends," she said Thursday, referring to her current tenure which expires next April.
Aziz enjoys huge support among bankers and government leaders for her role in saving the Malaysian economy and Ringgit during the 1998 Asian financial crisis.
