Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin must step up the pressure to resolve the 1Malaysia Development Bhd issue by replacing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak a finance minister during the probe.

PAS vice president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said this is to ensure no public funds are used to "bail out" 1MDB.

Muhyiddin last week guaranteed that the government will not bail out 1MDB.

The DPM also urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to start its own probe on 1MDB, independent of the National Audit Department.

"The DPM must advise the PM not to give any instructions to 1MDB until the investigations are concluded, because Najib is the firm’s board of advisors chairperson.

"(Najib) must ensure 1MDB’s full cooperation with the auditor-general to ensure no other controversial transactions are undertaken…," Tuan Ibrahim (above) said in a statement.

Tuan Ibrahim said Muhyiddin must also propose to cabinet that federal agencies like the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), Tabung Haji, Petronas and Khazanah no longer invest in 1MDB projects or bonds until 1MDB pays off its debts.

The sale and purchase agreement for the Tun Razak Exchange and Bandar Malaysia land to 1MDB must be made public, so 1MDB will not parcel out these assets for song to cover its debts, he said.

We're praying for you, DPM

"Cabinet must not hesitate to ensure that anyone involved in wrongdoing are prosecuted, even if it involves the Malaysian elite…

“We pray that the DPM does not disappoint the rakyat to ensure 1MDB is investigated in a transparent manner," he said.

Muhyiddin’s statement on 1MDB was seen as contradicting Najib, who said PAC will srutinise the public audit report after it is done.

The move and his absence at a meeting by Umno division leaders to show solidarity with Najib last weekend raised speculation of widening rift between the Umno top duo.

But Muhyiddin denied this, saying that his statement on 1MDB was on the same page as Najib.

The debt-laden 1MDB is under fire after an expose by Sarawak Report alleging that it transferred US$700 million (RM2.5 billion) to a firm controlled by Najib family-linked tycoon Jho Low (right).

Citing internal emails, Sarawak Report reported that this was part of a now defunct 2009 joint venture between 1MDB and Saudi Arabian oil firm PetroSaudi International.

Low said he was consulted about the deal but denied any criminal acts, while 1MDB said it has recovered the entire US$1 billion (RM3.7 billion) it invested into the joint venture.

1MDB also courted bad press when it delayed payment for its RM2 billion loan for three months. It has a total RM42 billion in debt.

However, the state investment firm said it paid US$66 million (RM242.94 million) of interest on its dollar bonds yesterday. The bonds will mature in 2023.