MACC backs off from alleged RM8bil Tajuddin swindle

PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub has trained his guns on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in his crusade to uncover a purported RM8 billion scandal in national carrier Malaysian Airlines.

Two MACC officers met him today to get his explanation on his claim that former MAS head honco Tajuddin Ramli's corrupt ways had caused the company to lose billions during his tenure as chairperson from 1994 to 2001.

However, according to the Salahuddin (right), who is the MP for Kubang Kerian, MACC claimed that it could not investigate further because "the case has been taken up by Bukit Aman" (the federal police headquarters).

"I am disappointed and not convinced by their answer," he said at a press conference in Parliament this afternoon.

Salahuddin had said that the MACC officers had told him that they could not take further action on the case since it has already been investigated by the police's Commercial Crimes Investigation Department.

"If there is no further action by MACC or the attorney-general to bring (Tajuddin) to justice, I will then urge for a royal commission of inquiry to be formed to look into the issue," he said.

He had earlier met with the commission's director of investigation Mustafar Ali and the corporate communications chief Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya for 20 minutes in Parliament as well.

'Will Najib protect Tajuddin as well?'

Calling Tajuddin a “criminal”, Salahuddin also threw down the gauntlet at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to take action against the former MAS boss.

“The two Tuns cannot even bring him to justice. I now challenge Najib. If he is serious about a government of transformation, it is time to drag (Tajuddin) to justice,” he said, referring to the two former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He also said that former CCID director Ramli Yusoff had also met Abdullah personally with evidence of the alleged wrongdoing. And yet he was turned down.

Salahuddin had previously reignited the issue earlier this week when he questioned why no action had been taken against Tajuddin.

He disclosed that two police reports have been lodged in 2002 and 2005 by the national airline over the matter and another report lodged with MACC in May 2009.

Salahuddin also claimed that as a result of investigations triggered by the police reports, a letter was sent by Ramli in 2007 which recommended to then premier Abdullah that Tajuddin and company officers Wan Aishah Wan Ahmad and Ralph Gotz be charged over the allegations.

According to the letter, Ramli had recommended that Tajuddin and Wan Aishah be charged under section 131(1) and 131(2) of the Companies Act for failing to disclose their interests and making false declarations.

It was alleged that Tajuddin acted inappropriately in the cargo handling contract between MAS and Advanced Cargo Logistics GmbH (ACL) in Germany.

According to the police report made available to reporters, Tajuddin actually controlled ACL through nominees and a close relationship with ACL directors, and used his position in MAS to secure the deal for ACL to the detriment of MAS.

Salahuddin, who also sits on the parliamentary select committee on corruption, had previously revealed a letter of complaint sent by MAS themselves to the MACC over the lack of action against Tajuddin.

courtesy of Malaysiakini