[UPDATED] ‘No further action’, Tajuddin free from elements of wrongdoing: MACC

KUALA LUMPUR – Investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) against Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for alleged misuse of authority has been classified as “no further action”.

The federal graft busters, however, are continuing its scrutiny of Kuala Langat MP Datuk Xavier Jayakumar over accusations of corruption.

This is according to a written parliamentary reply yesterday from Law Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.

The minister said that MACC had found the former Prasarana chairman to be free from elements of wrongdoing under the MACC act.

Previously, Tajuddin had been arrested by MACC on May 28 last year and was subsequently released on bail.

Wan Junaidi clarified that investigations regarding Xavier, who had last year resigned from his position as PKR vice-president and declared his support for the Perikatan Nasional government as an independent, are still in progress.

“MACC has concluded its investigations into the Pasir Salak MP.

“The results of the investigations revealed that there is no evidence of power abuse or corrupt practices by the MP.

“Meanwhile, for issues regarding the Kuala Langat MP, investigations are still ongoing, and MACC cannot disclose the details of the inquiry,” Wan Junaidi said in his reply to Teo who had asked for an update on the investigation statuses of both politicians.

Previously, Tajuddin had been arrested by MACC on May 28 last year on two charges of abuse of power and was subsequently released on bail.

It is understood that MACC had detained him over the appointment of his son-in-law to Prasarana.

The Pasir Salak MP had been investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009, which covers the offence of “using office or position for gratification”.

Tajuddin had also been accused of interfering with Prasarana’s operations and business dealings, where allegations of conflict of interest had surfaced.

On March 16 last year, PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had denied Xavier’s claim that he had defected due to disappointment in the party, alleging instead that he had been threatened by a senior minister.

Anwar had also revealed that a former minister complained of being pressured to defect from the opposition to support the PN government in order to have graft investigations into him discontinued.

Following a meeting with MACC chief Tan Sri Azam Baki on March 22, Anwar, who did not name the person under investigation, said Azam had given his assurances that the probe into the individual had not been shut.

It is understood that Anwar was referring to the MACC investigation into Xavier, who is also former water, land and natural resources minister and had come under the spotlight after his associate, M. A. Tinagaran, was hauled up by MACC for investigations into alleged corruption linked to sand mining projects.

Xavier has since denied media reports that Tinagaran was his aide. – The Vibes, March 2, 2022