PUTRAJAYA – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that a former minister complained of pressure to defect from the opposition to support the Perikatan Nasional government in order to have graft investigations into him discontinued.
The PKR president said this after meeting Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Datuk Seri Azam Baki at the agency’s headquarters here today.
Anwar said he raised to Azam the prosecutions involving opposition MPs, allegedly forcing them to jump ship.
Addressing the press after the meeting, the opposition leader referred specifically to the investigation involving a former minister who was hauled up for questioning by MACC.
“I stressed that corruption will not be effectively under control if there is no political will coming from the top, especially when the big sharks are safe.
“It won’t give a good perception when the small fry are the ones arrested.”
He said he tied this concern with a few cases related to the opposition.
The Port Dickson MP stressed, however, that if the authorities have a strong corruption case backed by facts, he will not defend the individual in question.
“However, in this specific case, a former minister complained to me that he was given a guarantee by a senior minister that if he jumped ship, he would be freed from the corruption allegations.
“I said if he is clean and there’s no corruption, we should not be worried.
“But in this case, everything seems to be under control, and all investigations quieted down immediately after he jumped ship.”
Anwar, who did not name the person under investigation, said Azam gave him assurances that the probe into the individual has not been shut.
It is understood that Anwar was implying the recent investigation into former water, land and natural resources minister Datuk Xavier Jayakumar.
Xavier, on March 13, announced his resignation as PKR vice-president and member, opting to support the PN government as an independent.
The Kuala Langat MP came under the spotlight after his associate, M.A. Tinagaran, was hauled up by MACC in its investigation into alleged corruption linked to sand mining projects.
Xavier has denied media reports that Tinagaran was his aide.
Azam also told Anwar that MACC does not have the power to continue charges against errant lawmakers, as that authority rests solely with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
The PKR chief questioned Azam regarding the agency’s investigation into Umno MPs who saw their corruption or criminal charges dropped after they joined Bersatu.
The meeting today, which took slightly more than an hour, also saw the two talking about educating the public and creating greater awareness on the dangers of corruption.
“These were similar cases with similar facts. Those who remained in the opposition were charged, while those who jumped ship were let go,” Anwar told reporters.
“MACC said they were not involved in releasing anyone; it was the sole prerogative and discretion of the attorney-general of the time.
“I reminded them that this does not help MACC’s image because they are giving the perception that they will cooperate and conspire with anyone in power, be it BN (Barisan Nasional), PH (Pakatan Harapan) or PN.”
He said he spoke to Azam about investigations into top government leaders, but did not receive a satisfactory reply.
Azam was quoted as saying there are investigations being conducted that are not publicly announced. – The Vibes, March 22, 2021
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