Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak must step down as finance minister, urged DAP parliamentarian Liew Chin Tong in a statement today.

 

“This is to facilitate transparent and independent investigation into the 1MDB scandal,” said Liew.

 

He made the call in relation to a statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Najib’s brainchild, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Muhyiddin yesterday urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to start its own investigation on 1MDB, without waiting for the Auditor-General’s report.

He also frowned on any plans to sell off Tun Razak Exchange and Bandar Malaysia, which he said would be a "loss" for the government.

Muhyiddin's call was in contrast with Najib who said the PAC can scrutinise the audit report after the auditor-general has finished the audit.

 

Liew ( right ), who had always called for a full-time finance minister to steer the country’s economy, said Muhyiddin’s latest statement gave sufficient ground for Najib’s removal as finance minister.

 

“It is the clearest indication of an impending challenge to Najib’s premiership by Muhyiddin. While Najib may still cling on to the prime minister’s post for a while, it is the onus of members of the cabinet to demand Najib to stand down as finance minister for a full and independent investigation on 1MDB.”

 

1MDB is under fire after an expose alleging it banked in US$700 million to a company controlled by Low Taek Jho who has links with Najib’s family.

 

The transaction was part of a now defunct 2009 joint venture with oil firm PetroSaudi International. PetroSaudi has denies the funds went to Low.