PM assures no cover up on 1MDB: Ismail Sabri

(NST) – Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has given his assurance to the party’s division chiefs that any person found to have committed wrongdoings in the running of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) will not be protected, said party supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Ismail, who was speaking to reporters after attending a meeting between the prime minister and 160 Umno division chiefs here today, said everyone was satisfied with the Najib’s explanation on the recent allegations against 1MDB.

“The president gave us an assurance that we will not protect any person who committed wrongdoings in the running of 1MDB,” Sabri, who is also Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister, said at Umno’s headquarters here this evening.

According to Ismail, Najib had explained to the Umno division chairmen that 1MDB’s accounts had been vetted by international auditing firm Deloitte Malaysia via forensic auditing.

“It was explained (by Najib) that Deloitte Malaysia found no elements of fraud during their audit. After hearing the president’s clarification on the matter, all the Umno division chiefs were satisfied with the explanation given,” Ismail said.

A forensic audit is an examination and evaluation of a firm’s or individual’s financial information for use as evidence in court. It can be conducted in order to prosecute a party for fraud, embezzlement or other financial claims.

Ismail, who is also Bera member of parliament, said all the division chiefs later expressed their undivided support for Najib as the Umno president.

“Lately, our president has been insulted and accused of many things. It is the responsibility of the division chiefs to be with him in times of mounting pressure and accusations,” he said.