KUALA LUMPUR – Perak PKR chief Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak has rubbished a report alleging that assets and cash worth millions belonging to his deputy were seized by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
In a statement, he said only RM17,000 in small denominations was taken by the anti-graft agency to facilitate the probe into M.A. Thinagaran.
He denied that a luxury car belonging to Thinagaran was seized, saying the vehicle belongs to an acquaintance.
It was reported yesterday that Thinagaran has been arrested by MACC in Ipoh after being questioned over alleged bribery involving millions of ringgit, believed to be in relation to a development project in the state.
Malaysia Now, quoting sources, said individual and company bank accounts containing RM77 million have been frozen.
The news portal also said the project in question was under the jurisdiction of former water, land and natural resources minister Datuk Xavier Jayakumar, for whom Thinagaran was an aide during the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.
Farhash said despite his call yesterday for all quarters not to make assumptions, Malaysia Now’s reporter painted a negative picture of Thinagaran by twisting the facts in a prejudicial manner.
“What is more saddening is that there were several other news portals that merely quoted sources to sensationalise their reports without making further checks.”
He reminded everyone that disseminating fake news is an offence under Sections 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and urged the government against bias when acting on the matter. – The Vibes, February 17, 2021
