DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh today alleged that MACC’s image was already tarnished by leaked audio recordings in 2016 between former prime minister Najib Razak and the graft buster’s then-chief regarding the 1MDB scandal.
This contradicts former chief justice Raus Sharif who attributed the downfall of the MACC’s reputation in recent years to the appointment of an ‘active politician’ as its chief commissioner during Pakatan Harapan’s federal administration.
“Raus’ view seems to suggest that the MACC enjoyed public confidence before the appointment of the so-called political appointee which cannot be further from the truth.
“As a former chief justice, Raus ought to have been candid about the image of the MACC which took a beating when leaked audio recordings of a former prime minister and a would-be MACC official in 2016 were made public by former MACC chief Latheefa Koya in 2020 in the presence of current MACC chief Azam Baki,” Ramkarpal (above) said in a statement.
The audio recordings in question were released by the MACC in 2020 during Latheefa’s tenure, which included several calls between Najib and former MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad.
The legitimacy of the recordings should also have been addressed by Raus, said Ramkarpal.
“The biggest disappointment from Raus’ speech was his failure to address the elephant in the room - the recent shares controversy surrounding Azam which has attracted considerable criticism from the public, leading to a serious confidence deficit of the MACC.
“One would have thought such incidents would have been addressed or at least commented on by a former CJ at such an esteemed event.
“Raus’ failure to do so and instead, pin the blame of the rot in the image of the MACC on the appointment of a political appointee in the last four years, who I assume to be Latheefa during the reign of Pakatan Harapan, suggests his utter ignorance of public perception of the MACC today, a clear sign of a man detached from reality,” Ramkarpal added.
During his speech at the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Forum 2022 yesterday, Raus claimed the independence and impartiality of the MACC were not upheld upon “political interference”.
This was a possible reference to the appointment of Latheefa Koya who was unilaterally appointed to the role by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 2019.
She gave up her PKR membership upon the appointment.
Raus added that the current MACC chief commissioner, referring to Azam Baki, must restore public trust and confidence in the commission. - Mkini
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