FEDERAL authorities are still working on the “red files” in their investigations into scandals involving the previous Barisan Nasional administration, Lim Guan Eng said.

The finance minister said the process was ongoing and investigations were moving.  

“We have to give the audit firms and internal auditors time to investigate in detail.

“They will try their best and work as fast as possible. We want them to look into things in detail. There is no timeframe set for them,” he said in Penang today.

Lim was asked about the latest concerning the “red files”, as abnormal contracts and hidden issues surrounding troubled state firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad were among the discoveries in the classified red files of the Najib Razak administration.

The contracts, which were off limits even to senior Finance Ministry officers, stipulated that the government would pay firms even if they had not completed enough work on a given project.

The present Pakatan Harapan administration is investigating scandals and suspected misappropriations involving the last administration, especially the controversial 1MDB – the brainchild of Najib, who is now under investigation for money laundering.

Lim, who is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman in Penang, also congratulated the Penang government for cutting the salaries of the chief minister and exco members by 10%.

Money cut from the salaries will be contributed every month to Tabung Harapan Malaysia, which allows Malaysians to donate to the federal government to help pay the RM1 trillion national debt left behind by the former administration.

“I also thank the Kedah and Johor state governments for doing the same,” Lim said.

Asked how long the government planned to keep the recently set-up fund going, Lim said it would depend on the people.

“When the time is right… It is up to the public. There is no compulsion. People donate freely. It is also tax deductible,” he said. – June 2, 2018.