Najib’s staunch supporter questions Dr M over inquiry into 1MDB
(The Malaysian Insider) – Sabah assembly speaker Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak is questioning Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s push for a quick inquiry into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), saying it is puzzling why the former prime minister wants speed over thoroughness.
Salleh, one of Najib’s staunch supporters, wrote in his blog that he did not agree with Dr Mahathir’s demand for a commission of inquiry to investigate the state investment vehicle.
Dr Mahathir said yesterday on his blog that the time had come for an independent commission to probe into debt-ridden 1MDB.
He said the members of the commission should not be chosen by Putrajaya so that it could “scrutinise every act of 1MDB”.
“This is because it is basically going to investigate not just 1MDB but also the government, which has clearly failed to oversee the affairs of 1MDB,” Dr Mahathir wrotein his blog yesterday.
But Salleh, who is also Sabah Umno deputy liaison chief, rebutted the suggestion, saying instead that whether or not the commission can do a better job that the Public Accounts Committee or external auditors would depend on the scope and depth of its investigation.
He said that Dr Mahathir had alleged that an audit would take years, and it was better to have an independent commission.
But Salleh argued that a commission of inquiry could take longer than an audit if there were many witnesses to be called and documents that needed to be studied.
He added that it was puzzling why Dr Mahathir was more concerned about time and wanted everything done fast.
