RM63 million in Mara’s fourth Aussie property undeclared, says Rafizi

Majlis Amanah Rakyat's (Mara) investment arm, Mara Inc, reportedly declared a higher purchase price for a fourth property in Melbourne despite paying RM63 million less for it. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 2, 2015.

Majlis Amanah Rakyat's (Mara) investment arm, Mara Inc, declared a higher purchase price in its official briefings for a fourth Australian property in Melbourne, despite paying RM63 million less for it, the National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) said today.

Its director Rafizi Ramli (pic, right) said that Mara had briefed its leaders about the purchase for 746 Swanston Street being at RM138 million, but in actuality, it only paid around RM75 million for the property.

Rafizi said this was based on official Mara briefings held in Melbourne in May last year, compared to a sales listing in an Australian website for the said property in 2012, when the purchase was made.

"It is highly likely that this amount was graft because all the money that was approved by Mara was not used to purchase the property," Rafizi said in a press conference.

NOW previously said that Mara Inc had also paid above market rates to purchase two other Melbourne properties from an unknown company.

- TMI