Action against Justo will depend on Thai probe, says Ahmad Husni

(The Star) – The Government will wait for the outcome of Thai police’s investigations into former PetroSaudi IT executive Xavier Andre Justo before taking the next step.

“We will wait for the full report before deciding on what action to take.

“We do not want to take action based on rumours or theories but based on facts,” Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah (pix) said in his ministerial reply during debates on the 11th Malaysian Plan in Dewan Negara, Monday.

He said the arrest of Justo was proof that 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is on the right track.

He noted that Justo’s action to allegedly leak doctored information had negatively impacted the people’s views towards 1MDB.

“It is as though 1MDB was so scandalous and fragile.

“That is why the Auditor-General was directed to investigate 1MDB,” he said.

He added that what is crucial is 1MDB’s future plans and the implementation of its rationalisation exercise.

Last week, Justo was arrested at a house at Koh Samui for allegedly leaking information to the London-based Sarawak Report website on several reports on 1MDB.

Justo, 49, was said to have demanded 90mil baht (RM9.98mil) from his previous employers in exchange for not disclosing confidential information to rival companies. He denied these allegations.

On 1MDB’s rationalisation plans, Ahmad said the company is on track to settle RM12.5bil in loans by the year’s end.

This, he said, would be achieved by monetising its Edra Energy power-generation arm through open tenders.

He added that the Tun Razak Exchange and Bandar Malaysia would be developed through joint ventures with investors aimed at increasing the company’s equity.

However, he said the ministry would still control 30% in Edra and 40% in the TRX and Bandar Malaysia ventures.