PETALING JAYA – Graft busters must be allowed to carry out their investigations into “open secrets” on supposed corruption, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar said this when questioned by reporters on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) recent seizure of Ilham Tower, a commercial building owned by prominent businessman and former minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
“Let (MACC) conduct its investigations. (It’s an) open secret (concerning) someone that embezzled such a huge amount of wealth,” the prime minister said after Friday prayers at the Kota Damansara Mosque, here.
“(Government) leaders must not be seen as if we’re protecting major corruption. There shouldn’t be a perception that whenever we touch on big names, it’s part of a scheme.”
Yesterday, it was reported that MACC had on Monday issued a seizure notice for Ilham Tower, located at Jalan Binjai in Kuala Lumpur.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki is said to have confirmed the seizure, which comes after the agency initiated investigations into Daim’s financial holdings in May over allegations of misappropriating public funds worth RM2.3 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s.
Under then-prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the government at that time had overseen the “forced” takeover of shares of a public-listed company, causing the stock market to plunge.
Daim was also reportedly under investigation over information about his wealth as leaked in the 2021 Pandora Papers, which detailed prominent names involved in transactions in offshore financial centres.
In February, Anwar had ordered agencies such as MACC and the Inland Revenue Board to continue investigations into big names mentioned in the Pandora Papers.
Besides that, Anwar reiterated today that MACC has a responsibility to carry out its duties, regardless of its target’s potential influence.
“Whether they (investigated persons) are a Tun or Tan Sri, MACC will uphold its duty (to investigate alleged misdeeds). If they don’t, there will be criticism on how small fry are captured, but their leaders cannot be touched.
“If we attempt to come for their leaders (behind supposed corruption), some will still defend such leaders, who use their influence and social media to defend (themselves),” Anwar said.
He stressed that his administration will not stand by a corrupt system as justice should prevail through the proper process involving investigative and judicial authorities.
“Our system must show that we have the bravery to act against huge corruption.
“Whether or not the allegations are true, let the investigation process run its course and the judiciary will decide.”
Since leaving public office, Daim has acknowledged that various reports on alleged corruption have been lodged against him, and that MACC has investigated him each time.
He maintained that despite all this, he had never been charged. – December 22, 2023