Who is the ‘former senior minister’ probed by MACC?

KUALA LUMPUR – The nation was jolted yesterday by reports that a former senior minister and a prominent businessman, who is also a Tan Sri, are under investigation in relation to alleged misappropriation of over RM2.3 billion of national funds. 

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe included taking statements from the two figures in the wake of the revelation of confidential documents through the Pandora Papers previously. 

The report from the investigation has started to trigger questions about their identities, especially that of the former minister. 

Based on information obtained by Getaran, The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal, the former minister is in his 80s and once held a senior position in a ministry. 

According to the source, the former minister once served with the nation’s fourth prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

The source said the investigation involved MACC’s initial probe into the disclosure of confidential documents made by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) – the so-called “Pandora Papers” – in relation to transactions suspected to have occurred in several offshore financial centres.

“The former finance minister was called to testify last February, and we (MACC) are indeed investigating the figure and have called various parties as witnesses.

“It is to ensure that if there is any wrongdoing, a full investigation can be done before the case is brought to court. 

“We are indeed examining in detail the allegations arising from ICIJ and we hope that the public will be patient and wait for the next steps from MACC because we take this matter seriously,” the source said when contacted.

The source also did not rule out the possibility that there would be more leaders and businessmen called by MACC regarding the disclosure of the Pandora Papers. 

In addition to the 14 witnesses, including the former minister’s son, I do not rule out the possibility that more individuals will be called in relation to the Pandora Papers disclosure,” he said. 

The media had reported yesterday that a former senior minister and a prominent businessman with a Tan Sri title are being investigated by MACC over the alleged misappropriation.

According to sources, the investigation is also focused on the purchase and ownership of shares in a listed company by a national giant, said to have been orchestrated by the former minister. 

The source said it is understood that the share purchase and ownership is believed to be a cause of the country’s economic decline and the fall of the ringgit in the late 1990s. 

When contacted, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed the investigation into the two figures. 

He explained that the investigation focuses on Section 23 of the MACC Act 2009 regarding the abuse of power to obtain bribes, and money-laundering offences under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

Meanwhile, a veteran Umno source informed that the party would not be surprised if it is true that the “otai” or leader was involved and is charged in court for the offence. 

The source expressed their gratitude to the government led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who has continued the Pandora Papers probe. 

“If he (the ex-senior minister) is arrested by MACC after this, the allegations through the Pandora Papers are true because of what he did that caused billions of ringgit of national money to be lost, and that should not be done. We already know his games and actions.

Detailed investigations proved that MACC may have opened Pandora’s box regarding the biggest kleptocracy case in the history of Malaysia or even the world,” the source said. 

The Pandora Papers is a revelation related to confidential documents of the world’s rich and influential figures, including Malaysians who hide their wealth using offshore accounts.

“Offshore” refers to companies based in foreign countries with complex cross-border networks and structures meant to hide the ownership of wealth in the form of money and assets.

Two individuals from Malaysia are alleged to be among 336 politicians who have offshore accounts revealed in the Pandora Papers, and there are 118 offshore companies with Malaysian owners.

On October 4, 2021, then opposition representative Anwar had submitted a notice of motion to former Dewan Rakyat speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun, requesting that a debate be held regarding the disclosure of the Pandora Papers.

The motion was put forward by Anwar, who was then-Port Dickson MP, under Meeting Rule 18(1) of the Dewan Rakyat Standing Orders. 

On October 6, 2021, the motion was rejected by Azhar on the grounds that the debate need not be rushed as the Dewan Rakyat meeting should be preceded by the rules of the meeting.

Not stopping there, Anwar a day later once again submitted a notice of appeal against the rejected motion.

After that on October 25, 2021, then-minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar ordered MACC, Bank Negara Malaysia, and police to investigate the matter. 

Wan Junaidi said the authorities and relevant agencies were given a time frame to complete the probe because the activity had already happened about 10 years ago. – The Vibes, May 20, 2023