There is no need for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to question Riza Aziz, the stepson of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, as he is not being probed for graft, said a deputy minister yesterday.

"For the MACC, Riza is not under a corruption probe so there is no need for the MACC to summon him (for questioning)," Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Razali Ibrahim told Parliament last night.

"Riza is not under the ambit of our (MACC's) investigation. It's not like he gave money to anyone," he added while wrapping up his part of the Budget 2017 debate speech, focusing on the MACC and Felda.

When Sim Tze Tzin (PKR-Bayan Baru) asked about the US Department of Justice (DOJ) allegations that Riza had bought luxury properties overseas with 1MDB funds, Razali replied: "What's wrong if people with lots of money buy things?"

The DOJ had in June accused Riza of claiming that US$94 million (RM393 million) of 1MDB funds which ended up in accounts he had access to, was a "gift" from Aabar Investment PJS Ltd (Aabar BVI), a secretive company based in the British Virgin Islands.

It said Riza used that money to purchase three real estate properties – one in New York City, one in Beverly Hills, and one in London, UK.

The DOJ also alleged that US$64 million (RM268 million) of 1MDB funds were used to bankroll the blockbuster Hollywood movie 'The Wolf of Wall Street', which was produced by Riza's film production company Red Granite.

Besides Riza, another person accused of swindling 1MDB monies by the DOJ was Penang-born tycoon Jho Low.

Razali said the MACC had already met Low, but the deputy minister did not elaborate on the matter. The graft buster previously said it had taken the flamboyant tycoon's statement last year.

He also said it was up to the DOJ to prove its allegations that 1MDB money had been misappropriated.

"They (DOJ) said the Malaysian people's money had been stolen. But 1MDB says the money is not missing. I'm still waiting to see which is right."

On whether the government would act as an intervener in the DOJ's civil suits, Razali said he was unsure about that, but said Putrajaya would only do so if "it has interest" in the case.