Three PKR lawmakers have lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) about the RM9.5million allegedly paid to lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah from the prime minister’s personal bank account.
This comes almost five months after the allegation was first reported by whistleblower website Sarawak Report. Malaysiakini is unable to independently verify claims made in the report.
Today, PKR Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin explained they had decided to approach MACC as no comprehensive explanations had been given over the allegations.
“Yes the issue is not new, but we are still waiting for either (Minister in Prime Minister’s Department) Nancy Shukri or Shafee to deny this allegation.
“There are two different accounts... the RM9.5 million amount is inconsistent with what Nancy said - that RM1,000 was paid to Shafee (for his services as a prosecutor).
“We want MACC to investigate who is telling the truth,” she told Malaysiakini when contacted today.
Shafee (photo) has yet to come forth with an official response to the allegation despite saying he would do so back in June.
Zuraida was accompanied by PKR vice-presidents Shamsul Iskandar and Xavier Jayakumar in lodging the report at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya at noon today.
MACC enforcement officer Huang Hee Heok received the report and said a reply would be made within seven days.
Zuraida, who is Ampang MP, added she would be raising this issue in the current Parliament sitting, which began today.
Sarawak Report previously claimed that Shafee had received the payment in two tranches - Sept 11, 2013 and Feb 17, 2014 from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s personal bank account.
Rather than use deputy public prosecutors, Putrajaya had in 2013 recruited Shafee as a prosecutor in the Sodomy II charge against de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim when the matter was brought to the Court of Appeal and Federal Court. Anwar was found guilty and is currently serving his five-year sentence.
Parliament was told in 2015 that Shafee was paid RM1,000 for his services as a prosecutor.
In light of the Sarawak Report expose, Anwar is seeking a declaration that his conviction for sodomy, under Section 377B of the Penal Code by the Court of Appeal on March 14, 2014, is null and void, and ultra vires of Article 5(1) of the Federal Constitution on the liberty of a person.
He is also seeking a declaration that the Federal Court decision on Feb 10, 2015 is null and void on similar grounds.
Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Azizah Nawawi’s decision on whether to strike out Anwar’s application is slated for tomorrow.- Mkini
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