Pua, who is also the DAP national publicity secretary, said despite criticisms by the opposition and the civil society, the Perikatan Nasional-led government had refused to unveil the terms of the settlement with Goldman Sachs, which was deemed unsatisfactory.
He noted that de facto law minister Takiyuddin Hassan had said the settlement was bound by a confidentiality clause.
In a statement today, Pua said there was growing concern the settlement was not as transparent as made out to be, and that the lawyers involved in the settlement exercise were paid huge fees. He said an allegation had also been made that a commission had been paid to PPBM.
He noted that PPBM information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan had denied the claims, describing them as “slander” and “character assassination” of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.
“He emphasised that PPBM was formed to fight for integrity and transparent governance. If it was really about transparent governance, why is the Muhyiddin government hiding behind a veil of secrecy?” he asked.
Pua said the previous Pakatan Harapan administration had ensured that the salient details of all contracts and agreements, particularly the fees for mega projects, were made available for public scrutiny.
In its settlement with Putrajaya last July, Goldman Sachs paid the government US$2.5 billion and gave a guarantee that Malaysia would recoup an additional US$1.4 billion from 1MDB assets seized around the world.
Yesterday, 1MDB lawyer Rosli Dahlan lodged a police report against former Umno Supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam and Kuang assemblyman Sallehuddin Amiruddin for alleged defamation in connection with the settlement with Goldman Sachs.
In his report sighted by FMT, Rosli said it was not true that he was appointed to act for the government in the 1MDB cases as he was acting for the sovereign wealth fund and not Putrajaya.
He also said it was not true the government appointed him to negotiate the settlement with Goldman Sachs instead of using the services of the Attorney-General’s Chambers, maintaining that the AGC always acts on behalf of the government.
“(The accusation) that I received up to RM1.7 billion in legal fees from the Goldman Sachs settlement, worth nearly RM17 billion, is malicious (and a) slander. My legal fees were much lower than that,” he said.
Pua said Muhyiddin should clear all doubts raised over the matter.
“While his government may have unnecessarily signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Goldman Sachs over the settlement, the fees 1MDB had paid to its professionals would not be covered under the NDA and can be revealed to Malaysians,” he said.