PAS has highest number of MPs supporting 'corporate mafia' RCI

 

PAS has the highest number of lawmakers supporting the call to set up a royal commission of inquiry on the alleged corporate mafia involving various individuals, including former MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.

Two weeks after the #RCINow Secretariat submitted a memorandum to Parliament, 34 MPs from various parties have so far supported the call.

Out of that number, nine PAS MPs expressed their support, followed by PKR with eight, DAP (seven), Bersatu (four), Amanah (two), and one each from Parti Wawasan Negara, Umno, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (Star), and Upko.

Bersih chairperson Faisal Abdul Aziz said the secretariat is providing another 14 days - starting today until July 30 - for other MPs to state their stance.

“The secretariat intends to publish the full list of names of all MPs and their stances on Aug 3.

“We also welcome citizens to send a document template supporting the establishment of the corporate mafia RCI to their respective MPs,” he said at a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

The #RCINOW Secretariat submitting a memorandum to Parliament on June 30

On June 30, a group of activists marched to Parliament to hand over a memorandum urging the government to establish the RCI.

The effort was driven by the #RCINOW Secretariat, formerly known as the #TangkapAzamBaki Secretariat.

Previously, several DAP leaders, including its chairperson Gobind Singh Deo, also called for such an RCI.

The allegations stemmed from a Bloomberg report in February, quoting sources who claimed there was collusion between a group of businesspersons and senior MACC officials to stage corporate takeovers - claims which the anti-graft agency denied.

Subsequently, Bloomberg and Malaysiakini separately published exposés revealing that Azam owned shares exceeding limits placed on civil servants.

Serious integrity questions

Faisal said the allegations surrounding the issue raised serious questions about the integrity of the country’s law enforcement institutions and eroded public confidence in the justice system, particularly the anti-corruption body.

Bersih chairperson Faisal Aziz (centre)

He said that to date, the government has not given a clear commitment to establish an independent investigative body capable of conducting a comprehensive, transparent investigation without interference.

“The government’s failure to disclose the findings of the special committee investigating Azam’s share ownership issue only adds to the perception that there are efforts to cover up an issue involving public interest.

“Allegations related to the existence of a ‘corporate mafia’ involving enforcement officers cannot be allowed to pass without a truly credible independent investigation,” he explained.

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Cross-party issue

The secretariat has called on every MP, regardless of their political bloc, to support the establishment of an RCI.

The secretariat, he said, will also contact lawmakers, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, either in person or through alternative methods, to urge them to state their stance.

“The support of these 34 MPs from various political parties proves that the issue of institutional integrity, anti-corruption, and government accountability is an issue that crosses political boundaries and is not the agenda of any specific party,” he added.

Below is the list of names of MPs supporting the establishment of the “corporate mafia” RCI so far:

Amanah:

Sany Hamzan (Hulu Langat)
Azli Yusof (Shah Alam)

DAP:

Syahredzan Johan (Bangi)
Howard Lee (Ipoh Timur)
Young Syefura Othman (Bentong)
Syerleena Abdul Rashid (Bukit Bendera)
Vivian Wong Shir Yee (Sandakan)
Teresa Kok (Seputeh)
Khoo Poay Tiong (Kota Melaka)

PKR:

Wong Chen (Subang)
P Prabakaran (Batu)
Hassan Abdul Karim (Pasir Gudang)
Zahir Hassan (Wangsa Maju)
Lee Chean Chung (Petaling Jaya)
S Kesavan (Sungai Siput)
Rodziah Ismail (Ampang)
Bakhtiar Wan Chik (Balik Pulau)

PAS:

Hasnizan Harun (Hulu Selangor)
Dr Halimah Ali (Kapar)
Misbahul Munir Masduki (Parit Buntar)
Wan Razali Wan Nor (Kuantan)
Awang Hashim (Pendang)
Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden (Alor Setar)
Syahir Sulaiman (Bachok)
Ahmad Yahaya (Pokok Sena)
Nik Zawawi Nik Salleh (Pasir Puteh)

Bersatu:

Azman Nasrudin (Padang Serai)
Suhaimi Abdullah (Langkawi)
Muslimin Yahaya (Sungai Besar)
Rosol Wahid (Hulu Terengganu)

Wawasan Negara:

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (Machang)

Umno:

Kurniawan Naim Moktar (Kinabatangan)

Star:

Jeffrey Kitingan (Keningau)

Upko:

Wilfred Madius Tangau (Tuaran)

- Mkini