WAS a letter of support by Prime Minister Najib Razak, which allowed state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) to borrow US$975 million (RM4.2 billion), issued with the approval of the Cabinet?

This was one of the questions from Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament Tony Pua that was rejected by Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia on the grounds that it raised suspicion.

The DAP lawmaker told reporters outside Parliament today that the issue of the letter was brought up by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) in one of its civil suits.

“Through a DoJ civil suit, we found out that a letter of support was given to 1MDB in September 2014, and it was a secret letter of support,” Pua said.

He said the letter allowed 1MDB to borrow US$975 million from Deutche Bank, and this raised the question of whether it had gotten Cabinet approval. 

He said Parliament rejecting such questions seemed to prove true the allegation that the Cabinet had not been informed about the letter.

“I only asked about facts, and this adds to the suspicion that one more secret letter of support had been given as an assurance to 1MDB.

“Why did the minister refuse to answer it in Parliament? It’s because it (the letter) was not approved by ministers.”

Pua said he would refer the matter to Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin for verification.

In March last year, the Finance Ministry confirmed that it had issued only two letters of support to 1MDB. – July 27, 2017.