No govt interference in MACC probe, says PM

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim today stressed that the government under his leadership has not interfered in the investigations carried out by law enforcers, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe against Bersatu.

Speaking at a press conference after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting in Putrajaya, Anwar said the investigation, enforcement and judiciary bodies remain independent in carrying out their respective investigations.

He also said that it was irresponsible for the opposition party to make accusations against the government.

"We will not do what they did and we will not use these (investigation and enforcement) bodies," he said.

Yesterday, Bersatu secretary-general Hamzah Zainudin was reported as saying that the party was disappointed with the move by the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional administration to use a government agency to achieve its political aim of killing off the credibility of Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki had confirmed that the graft-busters had frozen Bersatu's accounts to investigate funds believed to have been obtained from illegal proceeds.

On the probe against Bersatu, Anwar said reports had been made to the police and MACC on the use of funds by the party. 

As the finance minister, he said, he had also found untendered projects that were too costly during the implementation of the movement control order.

Citing as examples the project under the economic generation programme to empower competent Bumiputera contractors, JanaWibawa, and the flood mitigation programme, Anwar said he found that the costs of the projects were too high.

JanaWibawa was introduced to expedite the implementation of projects to revive the economy during and after the pandemic.

Anwar said the Bersatu leadership should also explain how they managed to get over RM300 million in funds in such a short time.

"The party leadership should, if they are really as clean as they claim, explain to the MACC how they could raise so much money in such a short time, from what sources and to whom the money was given.

"The matter will then be brought to the attention of the attorney-general according to the procedures. More than that, I don’t know. What we, the government, are stressing now is that no one is spared from being investigated, neither the government nor the opposition," he said.

On the call for PKR to disclose its account information, Anwar, who is PKR president, said the party had no problem doing so if asked by the MACC.

"The MACC can run a check on any party. Bersatu does not disclose its account, it was investigated.

"I have no problem as the PKR account is audited and submitted to the Registrar of Societies on schedule every year," he said.

Marzuki Mohamad, the former principal private secretary to former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, had urged PKR and DAP to publish their account statements, including the trustee accounts held on behalf of the parties, if any.