Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali says he is ploughing through thousands of documents on SRC International and the RM2.6 billion channelled into the prime minister’s bank accounts. – The Malaysian Insider pic, January 13, 2016.
Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali must treat with urgency the investigation papers on SRC International and the RM2.6 billion deposited into Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s accounts as they touched on the integrity of the prime minister and the Malaysian government, a former attorney-general said.
Saying that “the world is watching Malaysia”, Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said Apandi must realise that these cases were of public importance, especially as it also involved a prime minister currently in office.
“He (Apandi) should give priority to these cases and go through the investigation papers expeditiously because the integrity of a sitting prime minister and his government is at stake.
“If need be, he (Apandi) must work beyond office hours to go through the voluminous documents because it is his duty to make a decision as soon as possible,” Abu Talib, who was also the former Human Rights Commission chairman, told The Malaysian Insider.
Abu Talib, who was the A-G for 13 years from 1980, said this in response to Apandi’s statement last week that he needed time to go through the investigation papers.
In giving his assurance that he would act without fear or favour, Apandi, who assumed office last July, said he would go through in detail the investigation papers submitted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
“I’m studying it and you must bear in mind they have collected evidence from 100 over witnesses, it’s not one file, it’s as high as me.
“And bear in mind, I have to go through it thoroughly and I assure you, I will go through the evidence with a fine-tooth comb,” Apandi told reporters at the opening of the 2016 Legal Year in Kuala Lumpur last Friday.
Abu Talib said the A-G must also bear in mind the international community’s perception of the Malaysian government.
“These problems (RM2.6 billion and SRC) must be resolved soon or else it may have an impact on foreign investment to this country,” he added.
Abu Talib also raised concern on a resolution passed by the European Parliament on December 17, noting Malaysia’s numerous human rights transgressions, including its handling of investigations into the RM2.6 billion donation and the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue.
The EU called for “independent and transparent investigations” into the graft allegations and for Putrajaya to “refrain from putting pressure on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and media”.
The EU noted that media outlets faced restrictions under the law after reporting about 1MDB and the donation, while lawyer Matthias Chang and Umno man Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan were arrested for pursuing the allegations.
The EU also urged the repeal of the Sedition Act, the withdrawal of the National Security Council Bill and that all legislation be brought in line with international standards on freedom of expression and assembly, and the protection of human rights.
It said Putrajaya should release all political prisoners and drop politically motivated charges, and named PKR de facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar, blogger Khalid Ismath, academic Dr Azmi Sharom, and activists Lena Hendry and Maria Chin Abdullah.
The EU also “deeply deplores the rise of supremacist groups which contribute further to the creation of ethnic tensions” and called the death penalty cruel, inhumane and degrading.
On December 31, MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said the agency has handed over investigations papers to the A-G’s Chambers after interviewing more than 100 people, including the donor of the RM2.6 billion.
MACC said it has also been investigating SRC International over a RM4 billion fund, and not 1MDB.
Shukri had said that the probe into the RM2.6 billion was separate, adding that it was not completed as only witnesses in Malaysia were interviewed.
He said MACC has yet to obtain documents and statements involving overseas financial transactions, and it was seeking the A-G’s help to get these through mutual legal assistance.
Najib has denied the RM2.6 billion in his personal bank accounts was from 1MDB, or that the money was for his personal gain.
- TMI
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