A high-ranking government official insists that politics has nothing to do with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into Majlis Amanah Rakyat’s (MARA) overpriced purchase of a property in Melbourne, reported the New Straits Times.
The probe is not politically-driven, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Wira Razali Ibrahim.
In fact, one of the persons being investigated is a member of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party and Barisan Nasional (BN).
He also argued that MACC is not biased when it comes to political parties. “If one looks into the cases of people being investigated, BN leaders exceed those from opposition. This means that there was no oppression on anyone. If an offence has been committed, we detain.”
If MACC apprehends several politicians, and they then support the ruling coalition, “do not resort to saying that we detain due to politics,” opined Wira Razali, adding that MACC is widening the probe by requesting legal assistance from Australian authorities.
He said this during the conclusion of the debate on amendment to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act of 2009.
Previously, The Age reported that MARA purchased Dudley International House, a five-storey apartment in Melbourne in 2013 for AU$22.5 million, even though it only cost AU$17.8 million to build.
The Australian daily also alleged that Dato Mohammad Lan Bin Allani, an UMNO politician from Sabah and formerly state assemblyman for Sulabayan turned MARA Inc Chairman was involved in the suspicious deal, along with several high-level MARA officials including CEO Dato Halim Bin Rahman.
To help in its investigation regarding this transaction, MACC interrogated more than 20 persons.
Image sourced from Malay Mail Online
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