The Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) report on 1MDB did not clear Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as claimed by several BN ministers, said DAP lawmaker Tony Pua.

"I would say this... Instead of saying PAC cleared the prime minister, the way to say it is PAC failed to clear the prime minister.

"This is because we were not given any documents to investigate, hence, we were unable to clear the prime minister even we if wanted to," he told a press conference.

Pua was referring to the US$5.5 billion of 1MDB's overseas cash flow that went unaccounted as the state-owned fund refused to substantiate it with documents.

"It is the reverse. If Najib wants to remove any suspicion of link between 1MDB's overseas funds and himself, he must immediately reprimand 1MDB and direct 1MDB to hand over its banking records to PAC and the auditor-general for further scrutiny.

"If not, Najib will be further tainted with the perception that he is afraid of the truth being discovered and he has much to hide," he added.

He also reiterated that Najib needs to take full responsibility for the RM50 billion 1MDB debacle and take concrete action to ensure full compliance by the company.

Based on Irwan's testimony

Pua said this based on 1MDB's memorandum and articles of association (M&A) and the testimony of treasury secretary-general Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

The M&A forbids the appointment of treasury officials in 1MDB, he quoted Irwan's testimony in PAC proceedings as saying.

Article 117 of the M&A required the explicit written endorsement of the premier for every single substantial transaction carried out.

The PAC was given the documents that bear Najib's signature, he added.

"If the premier hadn't personally approved these resolutions, then none of the shenanigans cited by the auditor-general could have taken place.

"Hence, Najib was either very stupid or reckless to sign these resolutions without proper consideration or he was very much part and parcel of the 1MDB scandal.

"Even if you are stupid, you also need to be responsible," said the DAP lawmaker.

1MDB's ex-CEO Shahrol Azral Ibrahim Halmi could not have committed these wrongdoings by himself, he said, adding it must done together with the complicity of the management, board of directors, or even shadow director.

"1MDB board of directors offered to resign collectively; I welcome this. But we should not stop here.

"Why the advisory board does not follow suit? Why has Najib yet to announce to dissolve the board and remove Article 117 of the M&A out of the firm, as recommended by PAC?" he said.

Taking PAC reports lightly

Meanwhile, a pessimistic Pua expected the government will take the PAC's report on 1MDB lightly based on the PAC's previous reports on the scandal of Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) and the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC).

"Based on past experience, they won't bother with it," he said.

"In PKFZ, we (PAC) found the (former transport) minister has been guilty of criminal breach of trust. Very simple - he signed the letter of support without authority from the finance minister.

"But, the attorney-general charged him (Chan Kong Choy) for misleading the prime minister, which was relatively easily disposed of when former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he was not misleading," he added.

The government did not take further action against former transport minister Chan Kong Choy and he was acquitted, he said.

"So, it is all for show. Same thing (with) NFC," he added.