KUALA LUMPUR – Investigations by anti-graft officers into former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s son, Mirzan Mahathir, are not politically motivated nor an act of revenge, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
As the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is free to carry out investigations as and when it deems fit, Fahmi added that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had repeatedly said the graft busters do not act based on his orders.
“I don’t see it (investigations into Mirzan) as a political revenge or (instigated by) feelings of vengeance. Maybe such (assertions) are merely his (Dr Mahathir’s) own feelings,” Fahmi said during a press conference after attending a p-hailing event in Angkasapuri, here, today.
“(Anwar) has said several times that (graft investigations) are nothing personal. If it’s a matter involving public funds and property, the authorities have the right to investigate in detail.
“This applies to everyone, not just a particular party.”
Fahmi said this when asked about Dr Mahathir’s allegations that MACC’s “baseless” investigation of Mirzan is an attempt to “prosecute” the former two-time prime minister.
The minister also advised Dr Mahathir to self-reflect before issuing statements that could ruin his image as a statesman.
“I suggest that as a statesman, he should reflect before saying anything. As we get older, we should leave a legacy instead of trying to create stories like this. I hope he is more thoughtful.”
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir claimed Mirzan was called up to MACC headquarters for questioning by the authorities even though no offence has been established.
“My son was pressed to give evidence so that I can be prosecuted. There’s no offence established against my son when he was called to explain himself at the MACC,” he said during a press conference at Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya.
MACC summoned Mirzan on January 17 as part of investigations arising from leaked information in the Panama Papers. He was given a notice to declare all his movable and immovable assets domestic and abroad within 30 days.
Besides information on Mirzan, 65, in the Panama Papers, the agency is also investigating his business activities that involve the sale and acquisition of government-linked companies.
The probe is being conducted under the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The MACC said since August 2022, it had been investigating all entities named in both the Pandora and Panama papers, which are leaked databases on the wealth of global elites including politicians and their relatives, published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.
The Pandora Papers were published in 2021, while the Panama Papers were released in 2016.
In the Panama Papers, Mirzan is mentioned as having registered a company, Sergio International Ltd, in the British Virgin Islands in 2002. The firm became inactive in November 2006 and was struck off.
The leaked documents also mention him as a shareholder and director of Crescent Energy Ltd, a Labuan-registered offshore company incorporated in December 2003 with an authorised share capital of US$12,000 (RM37,000)
He is also named as sole shareholder and director of two other Labuan-registered firms, Utara Capital Ltd and Al Saad Investments Pte Ltd, incorporated in 1997 and 2009, respectively. – January 23, 2024