TAXPAYERS are the likely source to help 1MDB make its US$602.73 million (RM2.46 billion) payment to an Abu Dhabi firm on December 31, an opposition lawmaker said, in the absence of answers from the authorities on how the troubled state firm will clear its debt.

The Malaysian Insight sought responses from 1Malaysia Development Bhd chairman Irwan Serigar Abdullah, president Arul Kanda Kandasamy and Second Finance Minister Johari Abdul Ghani but all declined to comment on the matter.