MACC says powerless to probe mismatch of assets and income
(Malay Mail) – Amid calls for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe the prime minister’s stepson’s reported purchase of a RM110 million apartment in New York, the anti-graft agency has said that it lacks the power to probe those holding assets exceeding their income.
In a statement last night, the MACC said it had previously asked for powers under the law to investigate such “mismatch” of income against “excessive” assets, but said it was now hoping for the amendment to be tabled in Parliament next year.
“Although the investigation of asset ownership that does not match the income is not MACC’s complete function, the MACC welcomes if this clause is inserted into the list of amendments to the MACC Act 2009 that will be brought to Parliament next year,” the MACC said.
The MACC said that independent panels that monitor its operations — the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board and parliament’s bipartisan Special Committee Against Corruption — had similarly proposed that the agency be given more bite to compel owners to declare their assets.
“The latest ACAB report that was released earlier this month, among others states, Section 36 Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 has to be amended to allow an individual to declare his finances or assets without any preliminary investigation being carried out,” it said.
The ACAB views the lack of legal powers as a “restriction” in the government and MACC’s effective fight against corruption “because there were certain members of the administration or civil servants” holding assets with value that outstrip their income, MACC said.
In its statement, the MACC did not mention the name of the prime minister’s stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz, who is reportedly a 36-year-old film producer and owner of production company Red Granite, the firm that funded the Hollywood film “Wolf of Wall Street” starring Leonardo DiCaprio that opened in US cinemas last week.
The Pakatan Rakyat opposition bloc had recently asked MACC to probe Riza Shahriz’s wealth, which the former London-based investment banker reportedly amassed through equities and property.
