NEWLY appointed Plantations and Commodities Minister Johari Abdul Ghani said he would still head the task force in charge of resolving 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issues.

“God willing, so far I’m still (handling the task force),” he told reporters after clocking in with his deputy Chan Foong Chin at the Plantations and Commodities Ministry to officially start his duties today.

When asked if he would be replaced as head of the task force, the Titiwangsa MP said: “See who dares to do it, go ahead.”

He said he was monitoring the government’s claims against Goldman Sachs.

In July 2020, Goldman Sachs agreed to pay US$3.9 billion (RM16.6 billion then) to settle a criminal investigation by Malaysia against the investment bank in the multibillion dollar 1MDB scandal.

“After four delays, (Goldman Sachs) still hasn’t made the first payment of US$250 million.

“Their reason was that every settlement made through Ambank and the International Petroleum Investment Company (of Abu Dhabi) was counted as asset recovery.

“That is wrong. Recovery is when we look for (assets) that were lost through 1MDB,” he said.

Johari also said he was determined to strengthen the ministry.

“(The ministry) has done a good job so far because when I look at its website, everything is quite comprehensive.

“I just want to consolidate ties by increasing the number of meetings with industry players and stakeholders in the plantation and commodity sectors,” he said, adding that the sectors contributed 5% to the gross domestic product. – Bernama, December 13, 2023.