Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, the newly appointed Minister of Agriculture and Commodities, remains at the forefront of a task force addressing issues related to the 1Malaysia Development 8hd (1MDB).
Datuk Johari, who assumed his role with a symbolic gesture alongside Deputy Minister Datuk Chan Foong Chin at the Ministry of Agriculture and Commodities (KPK) lobby, expressed determination to tackle the ongoing concerns.
“Insha-Allah, so far I am still,” Johari commented when questioned about the potential transfer of responsibilities to another individual after assuming the ministerial position.
Johari also provided an update on the government’s progress in settling claims against Goldman Sachs in connection with the 1MDB scandal.
In July 2020, the Goldman Sachs Group agreed to a $3.9 billion (RM16.6 billion) settlement to resolve Malaysia’s criminal investigations into the bank’s involvement in the scandal.
However, he revealed that the initial payment of $250 million has yet to be made, with Goldman Sachs citing settlements through Ambank and the International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) as asset recovery, a characterisation disputed by Johari.
“Recovery is about finding things (assets) lost through 1MDB,” Johari emphasised, correcting the misconception. He highlighted the importance of ensuring justice in the restitution process.
Meanwhile, Johari is committed to advancing plans to strengthen the Ministry of Agriculture and Commodities. Praising the ministry’s comprehensive efforts, he expressed his intention to enhance relationships by increasing engagements with industry players and stakeholders in the agriculture and commodities sector.
Acknowledging the significant contribution of these sectors to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Johari emphasised the need to build upon the positive groundwork laid out by the ministry.
The developments underscore the ongoing efforts by the Malaysian government to address the fallout from the 1MDB scandal and reinforce key economic sectors crucial to the nation’s growth, reported Bernama.
