In response to a question by Lim Guan Eng (DAP-Bagan), he said: “Usually when it says administrative, it means a fine.

“Bank Negara has no right to decide the (amount of the) fine.

“They have to forward it (the amount of fine) to the Attorney-General. It is for the AG to decide.”

Lim interjected and asked Johari whether the fine would be paid by the officer in charge or 1MDB.

He said if 1MDB had to pay the fine, it meant that taxpayers’ money would be used, although the public did not do anything wrong.

“According to procedure, when an investigation is done, the firm has to pay the fine, not the individual,” Johari answered, adding that the action is only to ensure that all firms abide by the rules for foreign investments.

On March 23, BNM Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz announced that the central bank would take “administrative action” against 1MDB after it missed the deadline to submit documents explaining the reasons for not moving US$1.83 billion from abroad back to Malaysia.

Last year, BNM ordered 1MDB to repatriate the amount, following the central bank’s revocation of three permits to the state fund under the Exchange Control Act 1953 (ECA) for investments abroad.

1MDB had in return indicated that it was unable to repatriate the money as demanded as the funds had either been spent or earmarked for debt transfer.