MP SPEAKS The MACC never cleared Prime Minister Najib Razak of corruption and wrongdoing but the Prime minister cleared himself for receiving RM2.6 billion in his personal bank account without any supporting evidence

Najib claimed yesterday that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has cleared him of corruption over the US$700 million or RM2.6 billion donation in his personal accounts, according to reports in the News Straits Times .

“Don't say I sell the country, I won't sell the country. I'm the prime minister who will take responsibility for whatever I do… that's why MACC has said it is not corruption and not 1MDB money,” he was reported saying during the opening of the Bandar Tun Razak Umno division meeting yesterday.

I’m simply amazed at how the prime minister of Malaysia can twist the statement by the MACC to claim that he has been cleared of corruption and wrongdoings. I had to re-read the MACC statement issued on August 3rd to see if I have read its content wrongly.

“The result of the investigation found that the fund totalling RM2.6 billion allegedly deposited into the accounts of Najib was a contribution from donors, and not from 1MDB,” the commission said in the statement.

The MACC statement however never stated that the “contribution from donors” does not involve corruption or gratification as defined in the MACC Act. While the statement said that the money did not come from 1MDB, it did not clarify if it came from parties involved with the multibillion ringgit transactions with 1MDB.

Furthermore if the MACC has indeed closed the case and cleared the prime minister, why would the MACC issue another statement two days later to clarify that "MACC would also ask Najib to give an explanation to the MACC about the donation he received"?

Hence it cannot be clearer that the MACC has never cleared the prime minister for receiving such dubious and suspicious “donation” from the Middle East.

Not acting like innocent man

What’s more, the MACC also clearly stated that it was still investigating former 1MDB subsidiary, SRC International Sdn Bhd for the RM42 million transferred into Najib’s bank account.

In fact, MACC has already made several arrests pertaining to these investigations.

In fact, if the MACC has indeed cleared Najib, there would have been no need for all the drastic actions taken by the Prime Minister’s Department to intimidate, jeopardise and stall the activities of the MACC.

The police have arrested and investigated MACC officers who were investigating the prime minister. Two senior directors of MACC were suddenly transferred to the Prime Minister’s Office on Friday.

The special task force investigating the prime minister has also been disbanded by the new attorney general.

All the above actions by the prime minister points not towards a man who is “cleared” and innocent, but to one who is using and abusing all his powers to suppress and obstruct any further investigations into the dodgy RM2.6 billion mysterious donation.

Najib Razak is acting like a man who fears the truth exposed and chooses to lie and twist facts in his attempts to sweep the damning evidence under the carpet.

If the prime minister really believes he is innocent, he must immediately reinstate the special task force and grant them complete independence to finish their investigations without fear or favour.

Otherwise, Malaysians cannot be blamed for expressing their own judgement on the matter.

TONY PUA is DAP national publicity secretary and Petaling Jaya Utara MP.