SHAH ALAM – A forensic audit must be conducted on entities accused of mishandling millions of ringgit meant for the Indian community in order to bring the perpetrators to justice, said Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The opposition leader cited the audit report on the littoral combat ship (LCS) project that was recently declassified as an example of how such a document can be an effective measure in identifying the mismanagement of funds.
Specifically, the PKR president demanded that investigations be conducted into Maika Holdings, Maju Institute of Education Development (Mied) and the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).
“During my recent debate with (former prime minister) Datuk Seri Najib Razak, when I proposed for a forensic audit to be conducted, he made fun of me. But it is because of a forensic audit that the LCS scandal was unearthed,” he said during a programme with the Indian community here today.
He was referring to his debate with Najib in May on the embattled Sapura Energy Bhd, during which he repeatedly insisted for a forensic audit, a matter which became a running joke for the latter.
“The Indians must demand that either an inquiry or a forensic audit be conducted on Maika, Mied and Mitra. It has been over 30 years, but those who siphoned the funds are still free,” Anwar added.
He said despite multiple attempts by opposition MPs to seek answers and clarifications from the government over the alleged abuse of funds, there has been no answer to date.
Later when met by the press, Anwar said an audit on the three organisations is necessary considering the alleged scale of the scandals and the strong evidence of wrongdoing against those involved.
“Anywhere you go, the Indian community complain about being neglected on issues of poverty and education, among other things, but yet, funds meant for them were not handled accordingly.”
Maika Holdings was a special purpose vehicle founded by Barisan Nasional component party MIC in 1983 to mobilise funds from the community for investments and to help lift them out of poverty.
However, it was reported that the shareholders later lost a large portion of their investments, with Pakatan Harapan, later in 2018, alleging that more than RM100 million was stolen.
Mied is a MIC-owned entity established in 1984 as a private, non-profit organisation to provide education loans to poor students, but was later mired in allegations of misappropriation involving its senior officials.
Mitra, meanwhile, was similarly embroiled in allegations of corruption, with over a dozen individuals already under probe by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for embezzlement.
‘If Anwar becomes PM, he will ensure audit is done’
PKR central leadership council member Sivarasa Rasiah concurred that a forensic audit is necessary to systematically uncover the alleged misappropriation of funds meant for the public.
He said while Mitra is already under MACC investigation, an audit would be better able to identify any abuses, leakages and mismanagement involving the entities, with the anti-graft body’s probe limited only to those who are alleged to have benefitted.
Sivarasa added that while the scandals involving Maika Holdings, Mied and Mitra are not to the scale of 1Malaysia Development Bhd, the millions of ringgit allegedly missing also require investigation.
“Of course, a forensic audit will not be done by today’s government. MIC will not allow the current government to do it. But what Anwar meant earlier was, it is something he would like to see under the new government.
“When the new government comes in, if he becomes the new prime minister, this is something that he wants to see done.” – The Vibes, September 10, 2022
