KUALA LUMPUR: Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun has deferred his ruling on whether former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak allegedly mislead Parliament over 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

       "I received the written explanation by the Pekan MP (Najib) on Tuesday morning (March 15) and conveyed this to Damansara MP (Tony Pua) and am waiting for his response before making a ruling," he said when responding to a question raised by RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong) in Dewan Rakyat on Monday (March 21).

       Azhar Azizan also said he had received an explanation from Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz about his statement on the issue while in the House.

       Rayer wanted to know the status of Pua's motion to cite Najib to the Parliament Rights and Privileges Committee for misleading the House on March 2.

       In his debate, Najib claimed that the respective Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan governments had not repaid 1MDB's RM32bil debts since 2018.

       He also claimed that not one sen of the rakyat's money had been used to repay the loan.

       However, Najib's claims were refuted by Zafrul on March 3.

       Azhar noted that he needed to study the matter carefully before making a ruling.

       "What was said by Pekan was very specific as he said that the government has yet to repay the principal sum.

       "Whereas the Finance Minister said that payments on the interest would be made this May," he said.

       Payments on 1MDB's principal debts and interest amounted to some RM38bil, with repayments on the principal sum to begin in 2023, lasting till 2039.