Probe on Khalid will be impartial, MACC insists
(Malay Mail Online) – The Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) today dismissed claims that it would be biased in investigating the graft allegations against Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, insisting that it acts without fear or favour.
The federal anti-graft body called the suggestion of prejudice as put forth by PKR secretary-general Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, absurd, baseless and irresponsible.
“We would like to stress that the MACC does not practice any favouritism when it conducts its investigation.
“When the MACC conducts its investigation it does so in accordance with the MACC Act 2009… for Saifuddin to say that the ‘there would be no case against Khalid’ is wrong and irresponsible,” the graftbusters said in a statement.
It added that any complaint lodged with the commission will be investigated impartially “regardless of one’s political affiliations, religion or race”.
In a preemptive move, Khalid’s aides submitted PKR’s report on his alleged misdeeds to MACC yesterday afternoon.
The report, which was distributed to top Pakatan Rakyat leaders Tuesday, cited six reasons why PKR wanted to oust Khalid as Selangor MB with his questionable out-of-court settlement with Bank Islam on top of the list.
The other main reasons cited were his push for Selangor’s water restructuring deal with Putrajaya, the Kidex highway project, garbage collection issues, potholes and the increase of business license fees in the state.
Saifuddin had prior to the release of the report dared Khalid to go to the national graft-busters because the MB had now become a “BN-friendly” politician, referring to the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
“For sure SPRM will clear him. You know the words ‘selective investigation’? They will apply that to Khalid,” Saifuddin told Malay Mail Online yesterday, using the Malay initials for the anti-graft body.
Khalid’s preemptive strike also drew criticism from PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli who compared it to the cow-farming “stunt” pulled by Umno’s Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.
“If Khalid wants to use SPRM to clear his name, good luck because Shahrizat tried to use SPRM to clear her name too, but most people in Malaysia are convinced that NFC was a scandal and involved corruption,” he said.
“SPRM is a stunt. If he has nothing to hide, show us the settlement now,” the Pandan MP told Malay Mail Online when contacted yesterday.
Khalid has so far refused to step down although his party, with the support of the DAP, had announced its intention to replace him with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
The PR leadership council is set to decide on Sunday on the matter of replacing Khalid after PAS and the DAP meet separately to discuss if they will accept PKR’s nomination of Wan Azizah for the job.
