KUALA LUMPUR – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has said that the related bodies must thoroughly push their investigations into the Pandora Papers to ensure that action can be taken.
He said the investigations, which among others involve the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and Inland Revenue Board, were focused on the nation’s major personalities, including the former prime minister and finance minister who were believed to have misused their powers to gain wealth during their tenure.
“My instruction to these bodies is to continue their thorough investigations and I am asking my fellow MPs, comprising a total of 222 individuals, to be firm and not dispute the intentions of the investigation.
“If there is proof and facts, then action will be taken, but if action is taken without facts, it can be challenged as an abuse of power or being politically motivated. If hundreds of billions or millions of ringgit are siphoned, it will bring ruin and disaster to the country.
“This is an expose at the international level, but not many countries have the political determination to direct a thorough investigation. Alhamdulilah, Malaysia is a country which clearly wants to take action and stop this practice, the culture of shifting, looting the country’s money,” he said during the prime minister’s question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar said this in reply to a question by Datuk Seri Noraini Ahmad (Parit Sulong-BN) who wanted to know the government’s stance on the Pandora Papers issue, as well as the extent of the investigations and follow-up actions by the parties involved.
To a supplementary question by Noraini about steps taken by the government to ensure transparency and accountability of the financial industry and tax protection, Anwar, who is also finance minister, said the government has established transparency in the open tender process, especially involving Bumiputeras.
“There is a practice of taking the opportunity to help Bumiputeras, but embezzling money cannot be allowed. While there is a policy to help Bumiputeras, we cannot allow Bumiputeras to ask companies to give money to individuals and parties,” he said.
Answering an additional question from Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (Kubang Kerian-PN) on whether the government intends to examine offshore accounts, including political funds that have been channelled abroad, the prime minister said these matters including the Pandora Papers are a priority because they affect the interests of the country as a whole.
Anwar said the amount of money involved in the Pandora Papers issue is considered quite high when compared with the total population and the country’s economic position
“The money taken out of Malaysia was from illicit sources, mostly illegal, but I can’t say it all was (illegal). This is up to the investigative bodies, but this number is quite high for this country.
“Even though there are 3,000 (names), investigative priority will be set as the investigative bodies coordinate.
“This is without excluding funds from abroad or within the country, or to offshore tax havens to elude tax. Those that have violated the law are being investigated and several actions have been taken,” he said.
He also assured that the investigations will not be shoddily carried out, as they must serve as a lesson to all parties that the government will not allow such matters to persist. – Bernama, February 21, 2023
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