Report: MACC to summon ex-PM, principal private secretary this week for questioning
A FORMER top government leader and his principal private secretary is believed to have been summoned by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to assist in the investigation pertaining to the embezzlement of government funds worth millions of ringgit.
(Focus Malaysia) – He is one of the former top government leaders who are being investigated by the MACC for being suspected of having asset and businesses from dubious profits, according to Utusan Malaysia.
Citing a source, the mainstream Malay daily further revealed that the focus of the MACC investigation also focuses on the wealth belonging to the former top leader’s family members, including his wife and children.
The ex-PM who is also a patron of a foundation is alleged to have abused government funds by approving projects involving public funding to certain individuals when the country was infected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The East Coast state MP and his right-hand man will probably be summoned this week by MACC to facilitate investigation under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLA 2001) and MACC Act 2009,” the source pointed out.
Other suspects
In a related development, MACC is also believed to be investigating another former high-ranking national leader after being suspected of utilising government funding “to rescue his son’s business till a petroleum giant in the country having to sustain losses exceeding RRM500 bil since 1979”.
In this regard, the source told Utusan Malaysia that the petroleum giant is alleged to have also been manipulated as a “tool” to rescue financially troubled government-linked companies (GLCs).
“Funds from the petroleum giant are suspected to have been utilised to build a few mega projects in the country. Aside from the high-ranking leader, there are also business tycoons who have come under the MACC’s radar.”
In the meantime, Utusan Malaysia also revealed that the police will be handing over investigation pertaining to the abuse of government funding amounting to RM700 mil for advertising and publicity to the anti-graft agency.
“The cops will be producing an official letter on the matter for MACC this Tuesday (Jan 2),” Wangsa Maju district police chief Superintendent Ashari Abu Samah told Utusan Malaysia.
On Saturday (Dec 30), UMNO’s communications director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam has lodged a police report at the Setapak police station to demand an investigation into the purported abuse of RM700 mil in public funding for the purpose of undertaking government advertisement, promotion and publicity from 2020-2022.
