ATTORNEY-GENERAL Mohamad Apandi Ali, who is currently on leave, should resign following news that there was no proof to back his claim that the RM2.6 billion deposited in former prime minister Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts was a donation, said Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh.

Apandi in 2016, had cleared Najib of wrongdoing in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, describing the funds as a donation from a Saudi royal.

But newMalaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Shukri Abdull yesterday said after investigations with the Saudi prince, there was no evidence to confirm that the money was a donation.

Ramkarpal said Apandi’s findings which cleared Najib were “in stark contrast with the US Department of Justice’s well-known claim that the said sum was diverted from 1MDB”.

“In light of the above, it is likely that Apandi would be required to assist in the current investigations into the said RM2.6 billion claim by providing a statement to the authorities, particularly in relation to his prior investigations into the same,” the DAP MP said in a statement today.

“As a former Federal Court judge, Apandi is well aware that it would be highly embarrassing for him to assist in such investigations as a sitting AG and as such, he must resign forthwith.”

“I have said before that Apandi has overstayed his welcome and must resign. It is the honourable thing to do and must be done now without any further delay,” Ramkarpal said.

When Apandi cleared Najib, he said the bulk of the “donation” had been returned to the Saudi royal family.

Ramkarpal said Shukri should also lodge police reports over the threats and harassment he received over the previous 1MDB investigations.

“I strongly urge Shukri to stop such public outbursts and lodge the necessary police reports for the necessary action to be taken pertaining to his complaints.

“The current investigations into the 1MDB scandal by the MACC cannot be seen to be tainted in any way as the suspects thereto have every right to be fairly investigated and must not be deprived of such rights,” he said. – May 23, 2018.