by AZREEN HANI

OPPOSITION leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has submitted a motion to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun to debate on the revelation made by former Goldman Sachs Inc South-East Asia chairman Tim Leissner in the US Court last week.

Anwar called for the issue of corrupt practices, abuse of power within local institutions especially Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in the wake of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal to be discussed in the August House.

“This matter should be debated in a detailed and comprehensive manner in the Dewan Rakyat because it involves public interest,” he said in a media statement yesterday.

“This case requires an immediate explanation from the government following the failure of national enforcement agencies, especially the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, to detect, investigate and prosecute any Malaysian citizen if they are involved in any financial transaction,” he added.

BNM said last week that it has furnished information to the relevant law enforcement agency in April 2016 on the accounts belonging to the husband of a former governor.

“BNM would also like to address previous reports on information received from foreign financial intelligence units with respect to the accounts belonging to the husband of a former governor.

“On this, BNM has furnished information to the relevant law enforcement agency in April 2016 in accordance with our responsibilities under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001,” the central bank said.

The statement was made following Leissner’s testimony that the central bank has approved an “overnight” foreign exchange transfer of US$1 billion (RM4.2 billion) from 1MDB to PetroSaudi International Ltd, after Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz’s husband, who was allegedly bribed, “to make it happen”.

In referring to Leissner’s testimony with regards to the approval given by BNM for 1MDB to invest abroad in 2009, BNM said: “All investments abroad by resident entities are subject to the requirements under the Exchange Control Act 1953 that was in force prior to 2013 (since replaced by the Financial Services Act 2013).”

“All submissions made by 1MDB, including the said application, were subject to the same approval criteria and internal governance process that apply to any submission by other entities to BNM,” it said.

Zeti’s husband Tawfiq Ayman subsequently denied ever receiving bribes nor knowing and meeting Leissner.

“I wish to categorically state that throughout my entire life, I have never received any bribes from anyone,” he said in a statement last Thursday.

“I am shocked with the statements made against me by Leissner, which had been reported in the media,” he added.