The Petaling Jaya Utara MP called the AG out on the statement especially because it was the first time that the latter had even said anything about 1MDB, “after untold months of utter silence and inaction”.
On Tuesday, Apandi told the media that there was a need for more investigation due to a lack of evidence.
“When the investigation papers are referred to us, we go through them. We find a lack of evidence. So, we give instruction that the team should carry out investigation in certain areas (to the police).
“About 20% to 25% of the investigation papers need to be reviewed,” Apandi had said.
Pua questioned Apandi for not making the effort if he really needed more evidence.
“If he really needed more evidence, why did Apandi reject the request for mutual legal assistance requests from the Swiss Attorney-General?
“In fact, why has not Apandi sought assistance from the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) for more information on the tens of billions of ringgit laundered from 1MDB funds?” Pua said.
The DAP national publicity secretary added that in June, following the latest civil action by the DoJ, Apandi had dismissed the evidence put forward by the DoJ and accused them of being “politically motivated”.
“The question for our AG is, did he even investigate those claims before concluding that they were ‘politically motivated’?”
Apandi’s comments on Tuesday followed an answer by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said in the Dewan Rakyat the day before.
On Monday, in a written parliamentary reply to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, Azalina said Apandi had directed the police to conduct a further probe into 1MDB, despite the Inspector-General of Police Mohd Fuzi Harun claiming on Sept 20 that they had concluded investigations into 1MDB.
Azalina said Apandi gave the instruction on Oct 24.
Pua took the IGP to task for participating in this “shameful game of passing the parcel”.
“In September, Fuzi announced that the police had closed its investigations and wouldn’t reopen them unless instructed by the PAC or the cabinet.
“Is the new IGP so spineless that he will not investigate crimes without the green light of his political masters?” he asked.
Pua also questioned if the Malaysian authorities consider the 1MDB issue a big joke, considering the way the issue has been handled so far.
“Investigations start and close and get reopened by different authorities, yet no one seems to be getting closer to any firm conclusions.
“In Parliament, questions on 1MDB get rejected because matters are either in court or under investigations. Which court matter or investigations they are rejected on are never revealed.”
The DAP leader then urged for Malaysians to use their responsibility as voters in the next general election, to “punish those who have grossly abused their power, accrued outrageous wealth for themselves and failed Malaysians who have placed their trust in them”.