Candidates list under wraps

Pakatan has no plans to submit GE14 names to MACC for vetting

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Harapan has no intention of submitting the list of its election candidates to the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) for vetting.

In questioning the motive behind the move, Opposition leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (pic) said Pakatan does its own internal vetting.

“Who is the MACC? Why does the MACC want to do the vetting?

“We have to be wary as it may be a political ploy,” she told reporters at a press conference at the PKR headquarters.

Dr Wan Azizah claimed that the MACC was quick to single out the Opposition through selective prosecution.

On Tuesday, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said that Barisan Nasional was the only political coalition that had submitted its election candidates list for vetting.

Dzulkifli said while there was no law to compel a political party to allow the antigraft body to carry out a vetting process, Barisan did so voluntarily to ensure that their candidates were free of corruption.

In the 13th general election, Barisan submitted its list to the MACC but the Opposition pact did not do so.

On a separate matter, Dr Wan Azizah confirmed that PKR has accepted Selayang MP William Leong’s decision to quit the party’s political bureau.

Leong submitted his letter of resignation on Aug 21 due to disagreement with PKR’s decision to negotiate electoral seats with PAS.