This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on October 8, 2015.

KUALA LUMPUR: The onus is on the prime minister to heed the Malay rulers’ call for the government to settle issues involving debt-ridden state investor 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

The Umno deputy president said it is rare for the Conference of Rulers to issue statements unless it involves major issues that affect the public and the country.

“When Their Royal Highnesses speak out about the 1MDB issue, it signifies that 1MDB is a very big matter in their opinion and demonstrates their concern about the negative effects the 1MDB controversy has on the public and nation,” Muhyiddin said in a statement posted on his Facebook page yesterday.

Muhyiddin told Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to ensure that investigations into the state investor by the relevant agencies are allowed to run in a transparent and fair manner.

He also urged Najib to ensure there is no disturbance by any parties into the investigations.

In welcoming the statement made by the Malay rulers yesterday, he said it showed they were aware that issues about 1MDB are damaging the people’s confidence in the government.

“If the probe finds that there were parties that ran afoul of the law, then legal action must be taken immediately without fear or favour”, Muhyiddin said.

He said that until yesterday, no action had been taken against anyone over the 1MDB scandal, adding that Bank Negara Malaysia governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz had issued a statement saying the central bank had completed its probe into the state investor’s transactions and that the findings were handed over to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AG) in August.

Muhyiddin said that if the central bank’s investigations have proof of wrongdoing under the country’s laws, it is the responsibility of the AG to charge those responsible.

“I am concerned that because the 1MDB scandal touches on public interest, any delay on the part of the Attorney-General to prosecute will affect the people’s confidence in the government.

“So the Attorney-General must reveal to the public as soon as possible the developments of this probe,” Muhyiddin said.

Najib dropped Muhyiddin as deputy prime minister in a Cabinet reshuffle in July.

The Umno deputy president had been vocal in criticising the prime minister over the government’s handling of the 1MDB scandal and the RM2.6 billion that was deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts. — The Malaysian Insider