‘Raids not politically linked’
> We do not take sides, says anti-graft chief
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad has denied accusations that the commission’s raids on offices linked to the Selangor state government were politically motivated and planned.
He said the commission remains impartial and its main aim is to battle corruption regardless of political affiliations.
“We do not pick sides, we will investigate whoever on the issue of corruption and abuse of power. Anyone involved, be it politicians or civil servants, necessary action will be taken if they are believed to have committed an offence,” he said yesterday.
The commission held simultaneous raids on Tuesday on the offices of Universiti Selangor (Unisel), Selangor-owned Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and private firm Jana Niaga Sdn Bhd (JNSB) over allegations of corruption and power abuse involving RM16 million.
Sources said the commission had acted on a report lodged against MBI and JNSB on alleged corrupt practices.
MBI is the investment arm of the state government.
It is learnt JNSB, a private company tasked with maintaining state-owned Unisel’s student hostels, lost the contract in 2013 after the university management found the firm had allegedly breached its contract, and its work was found to be unsatisfactory.
However, JNSB claimed it was not paid by Unisel for 17 months and the case was taken to court, where the judge ruled in favour of the university.
The dispute then continued out of court, with Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali stepping in to resolve it.
Despite not being bound to reimburse JNSB, MBI had apparently paid RM16 million to it in two payments in 2015 and 2016.
MACC is investigating why the payments were made.
Meanwhile, in a move to engage and spread awareness to the public about the perils of corruption, MACC is set to launch a theatrical performance entitled Bahara Emas.
The free production will run from Oct 19 to 22 to commemorate MACC’s 50th Anniversary and will be held at Auditiorium Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
Directed by Rosminah Tahir, it features an array of television and theatre stars like Farahdhiya Amir, Izzue Islam and Amar Asyraf and Datuk Jalaluddin Hassan.