‘Give MACC time to probe claims of Pas leaders receiving millions’

KLANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) needs time to probe claims that Pas leaders received RM90 million from Umno, Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

He said MACC’s statement confirming there was so far no trace of RM90 million entering the official accounts of Pas from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was probably made because it did not have the full information yet.

“That’s what they (MACC) said. They may not have the full information yet. It takes time.

“There’s a lot more money stolen by Datuk Seri Najib Razak which the MACC has not had time to probe. This does not mean Najib did not steal.

“It’s just not being investigated yet. Let’s wait to see if it’s true or not,” he said after launching Metrod Holdings Bhd’s copper rod manufacturing plant here yesterday.

Present were Metrod Holdings founder Apurv Bagri, chairman Datuk Abu Hassan Kendut and president and chief executive officer Rajan Mittal.

Dr Mahathir was commenting on whether the statement by MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull that the commission had so far not detected any RM90 million transaction from 1MDB channelled to Pas’ official bank accounts would have an impact on Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) campaign in the Semenyih byelection.

Asked on his statement yesterday that he was confused with Pas leaders’ support for him, Dr Mahathir, who is Bersatu chairman, said he did not need the support of Pas members of parliament as he already had support of Pakatan Harapan (PH) MPs.

“I need just over 50 per cent support of the MPs. I do not need Pas’ support because PH itself has more than half the seats in the Dewan Rakyat.

“If Pas wants to support, then they should do so.

“They should not talk about signing letters to support me. They did not even say they want to support PH, just me.

“But I am not the government. PH is,” he added.

On another issue, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia would only proceed with the East Coast Rail Link project if the nation could afford it, failing which, it would be postponed.

“If the price is right then we will continue.

“But, at the moment we have not agreed upon the price.

“The government’s hope is to spend less money,” he said.