FRESH from his swearing-in, Attorney-General Tommy Thomas has named his No. 1 priority: to nab the culprits responsible for the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal.

No one would be spared in the investigation into the debt-ridden state investment fund, he said, which was established by former prime minister Najib Razak.

“The government’s first and immediate priority is all matters pertaining to 1MDB,” said Thomas, at the lobby of the Attorney-General’s Chambers in Putrajaya, today. 

“I have to, therefore, study the papers on the scandal. We shall institute criminal and civil proceedings against the alleged wrongdoers. 

“All are equal before the law and no one will be spared. There will be no cover up,” he said, before clocking in on his first day at work. 

“Simultaneously, we will immediately contact our counterparts in the United States, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Singapore and other jurisdictions, to extend our full cooperation and assistance to them in all matters relating to 1MDB with the objective of having the billions stolen from taxpayers returned to Malaysia.”

Asked if which individuals would be charged in connection with 1MDB, Thomas replied: “I have to study the papers.”

“As far as I’m concerned, they are alleged wrongdoers. I have to study the papers.”

Asked if he would look into allegations that former A-G Mohamad Apandi Ali obstructed investigations into 1MDB, Thomas said: “I will look into it.

“Everybody, (have) an open mind. Don’t forget I’m an outsider. All I know is what I read in the public domain. I’ve not had access to any government documents. I’m happy to study them. But have an open mind.

“I don’t know anything yet because I’ve just come in. Don’t forget I’m an outsider. I can only answer questions that I know from the outside. In a few minutes, I will become an insider and hopefully be briefed.”

The state investment fund is at the centre of graft and money-laundering investigations in at least six countries. Najib has been hauled up for questioning over allegations he was the recipient of stolen funds.

Najib has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed last month that RM6.98 billion in taxpayer funds were used last year to repay 1MDB debts, currently estimated at RM38 billion. 

Lim also revealed classified red files under Najib’s administration which stipulated that the government would pay firms even if they had not completed enough work on a given project. 

One such firm included the ministry’s own subsidiary, Suria Strategic Energy Resources Sdn Bhd (SSER), currently mired in a RM9.4 billion scandal.

SSER was an offshoot of the same people behind SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB. – June 6, 2018.