The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to use the powers within the law to thwart illegal interference by the police into its investigation of 1MDB's subsidiary, SRC International Sdn Bhd.
MACC should take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that its investigation into SRC International can proceed smoothly, PKR deputy president Azmin Ali said today.
Azmin, who is also Selangor menteri besar, said in a statement that over the past week, the nation witnessed the blatant display of power by the police in arresting and interrogating key personalities involved in the on-going 1MDB investigations.
Describing such acts as harassment and intimidation, Azmin said these actions were clearly aimed at obstructing the smooth progress of the on-going investigations.
Azmin went on to cite Section 48 of the MACC Act 2009, under which it is a criminal offence for anyone to obstruct an investigation by the MACC.
“Particularly disturbing were the recent unwarranted raids and detention of several officers from MACC and Attorney-General’s Chambers who were still actively engaged in the 1MDB (SRC International) investigations.
“It is crucial that the MACC must be allowed to carry out its duties without fear or favour. In this regard, I call on all right thinking Malaysians, political parties regardless of party lines and all members of civil society to rally behind the MACC to enable it to perform its duties,” he said.
Azmin said it was absolutely essential to restore whatever credibility that is left in the investigations into 1MDB.
Since the sacking of Muhyiddin Yassin as deputy prime minister and the sudden removal of the attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail last week, the Selangor MB said, Malaysians have witnessed one event after another that clearly point to a conspiracy to neutralise the 1MDB investigations.
“Both the 1MDB Special Task Force and the Public Accounts Committee appear to be halted in their tracks.
“The 1MDB investigations must not be seen as a witch hunt but as part of the process of the rule of law in our country. This is of vital importance to restoring investors’ confidence in our economy and financial system,” Azmin added.
Wan Azizah: It’s now a comedy of errors
In a separate statement, PKR president and parliamentary Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the “RM2.6 billion in the prime minister’s personal bank accounts” scandal had become a comedy of errors.
Illogical arguments are being made by the government and by cabinet ministers, none of which have managed to convince the people that the scandal would be resolved, Wan Azizah said.
She said the statement by the Dewan Rakyat speaker that the PAC cannot resume with its investigations into 1MDB now raised questions on why it cannot continue with its work.
This was especially so as the people were eagerly awaiting the explanations from the 1MDB officers, namely its chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy and its former CEO Shahrol Halmi, on the outflow of the 1MDB funds.
“For the second time, the PAC hearing had to be postponed (after Arul was not present for the first one)
“Such postponement is not healthy in a democracy like Malaysia and will result in a negative perception,” she said.
Wan Azizah warned that the country is faced with the depreciating value of the ringgit and low confidence among investors as a result of the actions of the government and its leaders, which have affected the country's image.
The country does not have much time, she said, and she went on to call everyone, including federal lawmakers regardless of their party affiliations, and civil society groups to be united in saving the country.
