KUALA LUMPUR: Lawmakers will not be allowed to debate the United States Department of Justice’s (DoJ) civil suits seeking forfeiture of assets linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), as it could be sub judice, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia said today.
“It is a matter that is still being discussed in court … therefore it is sub judice. The minister need not answer such questions,” Pandikar said, referring to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Azalina Othman Said, who in the previous Parliament sitting refused to answer questions regarding 1MDB, citing sub judice.
The decision by Pandikar prompted Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong) to request for a review of the decision.
Pandikar replied: “All answers will be given via written replies. Those who want to read (the answers) can do so.”
Gobind pressed on, questioning the reasons for labelling the details of the DoJ report as sub judice, as no one had yet read its contents.
DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang also requested for a motion to discuss the issue in Parliament.
The DoJ lawsuits claim that over USD3.5 billion (RM14.78 billion) was misappropriated from 1MDB, and that it was seeking to “seize assets” involved in and traceable to an international conspiracy to launder money.