PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has submitted a motion to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Harun to debate the testimony of former Goldman Sachs Southeast Asia chairman Tim Leissner in a US federal court.

       Anwar urged Azhar to allow the debate concerning allegations of bribery and abuse of power within institutions such as Bank Negara, in relation to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.

       The Port Dickson MP said the matter required thorough attention and debate in Dewan Rakyat as it involved public interest.

       “This matter also needs to be expedited as the latest case is exposed at an international level and requires an immediate explanation from the government following the failure of national enforcement agencies, especially the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), to detect, investigate and prosecute any Malaysian involved in any financial transaction.

       “I hope this motion receives due consideration from the Speaker,” Anwar said in a statement yesterday.

       On Feb 23, Leissner told a US court, where he is the star witness in the 1MDB trial of Malaysian former banker Roger Ng, that Bank Negara gave an “unprecedented” overnight approval for 1MDB to transfer US$1bil in funds to PetroSaudi International.

       He alleged that this unusual approval was granted because the central bank’s then governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz’s husband was allegedly bribed at the time.

       On Feb 25, Zeti’s husband Datuk Dr Tawfiq Ayman denied that he received any bribe and said he did not know Leissner, nor his subordinate Ng.