MACC says audio clip probed, matter now with AGC

(FMT) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) says it has investigated an audio clip purportedly of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin enticing Umno leaders to join his party with promises of positions in the Cabinet and GLCs.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the matter has been handed over to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC).

When asked if Muhyiddin would be called up to give his statement on the recording, Azam said this would depend on the ACG’s instructions.

“In investigations about audio recordings, we have to look at various issues such as the authenticity of the voice and whether what was said in the audio is a crime or not,” he told reporters in a press conference at UniKL today.

The recording was purportedly made at a PPBM Supreme Council meeting on Feb 23, a day before Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as prime minister and chairman of PPBM, causing the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government.

According to the recording, Muhyiddin had encouraged PPBM leaders to try and convince Umno MPs to switch sides. PPBM would be the largest Malay party in the government if they succeeded, he purportedly said.

On Tuesday, Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh asked for updates on the police reports made over the audio, adding that an offence would have been committed if the voice in the audio was indeed that of Muhyiddin.

Reports were also lodged with MACC over the recording following its release in May.

On a separate issue, Azam said the probe into the RM250,000 in cash missing from former minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s home was in the final stages.

He said investigations could be completed in a week’s time, adding that there were not many more witnesses to call up.

“Once it has been completed, we will hand over the investigation papers to the AGC and leave it to them to decide.”

Syed Saddiq was called up to the agency’s headquarters numerous times and ordered to declare his assets as part of the MACC probe, carried out under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act related to gratification and bribery.

MACC launched the investigation following a complaint related to the loss of the cash, which Syed Saddiq reported to police in March.

He said the money had been kept in a safe box at his house and only a few people knew the combination code for it.