MACC unable to confirm Anwar's claim of gambling funds for PN

Law minister Azalina Othman Said today said that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had been unable to confirm claims that parties in Perikatan Nasional (PN) had received funds from the proceeds of gambling at last year's general election.

In a parliamentary reply to Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari, she said the anti-graft agency had carried out a detailed investigation into the claims, made by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim after chairing his first Cabinet meeting last December. 

"However, MACC found that the information at hand was too general and that no party could confirm the issue. 

"Therefore, no investigation file was opened on this matter," she said. 

Anwar, the Tambun MP, had made the suggestion on Dec 5. 

"Certainly, the funds would have been used to finance elections but need to check on that," he was quoted as saying by The Malay Mail.

PN later described the claims as "defamatory" and said it was considering legal action.

Azalina said at the previous Dewan Rakyat sitting that MACC was studying the relevant information as a basis for its investigation, responding to Fadhli who had asked about the status of the probe.