Pakatan Harapan leaders welcomed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) investigation on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, but were quick to remind the commission of the scandals surrounding Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
DAP parliamentary leader and Guan Eng's father Lim Kit Siang said the MACC should conduct its investigations without any fear or favour.
“If there is any complaint of abuse of power, open (an investigation). But we also want investigations opened on any complaint against Umno and BN.
“So far, we don't see anything of it. The problem is Najib's twin mega scandals, whether 1MDB or the donations. There is no outcome,” he told reporters in Kuala Lumpur last night.
Kit Siang appeared to be unaware of the investigation until told by reporters after the inaugural Lim Kit Siang Lecture last night, which was held in conjunction with Kit Siang's 50th year in politics, and DAP's 50th anniversary.
Earlier in the evening, Penang MACC said it had received a complaint over Guan Eng's purchase of the bungalow and the commission promised a fair investigation.
This followed allegations the day before from Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya, who claimed that the house was purchased on Oct 25 last year for RM2.8 million, which was supposedly well below the market price of RM6 million to RM6.5 million.
Guan Eng, who is also the DAP secretary-general, has denied wrongdoing, saying that the purchase was 'an arm's length transaction' on a willing-buyer and willing-seller basis.
‘Selective prosecution’
Meanwhile, when met at the same DAP function, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail decried the investigation against Guan Eng as selective prosecution.
“When we lodge reports, nothing happens. This is an allegation that doesn't seem to have much in it, but straightaway, there is an investigation. So it looks like selective prosecution,” she said.
As for Amanah president Mohamad Sabu, he said there should be any double standard in the MACC probe.
“MACC is free to investigate anyone, and press charges if there is a case. No matter who it is.
“Just (remember to) investigate Najib. Charge him,” he added.
MACC had opened three investigation papers against Najib over the RM2.6 billion deposited into his personal bank account, and another RM42 million that was channelled into his account from the Finance Ministry-owned SRC International.
After reviewing the papers however, attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali cleared Najib of wrongdoing and decided not to press charges against him.
Najib had denied taking public funds for personal gain, and decried that the allegations are part of a plot to topple him.
Mat Sabu quizzed by cops
On another matter, Mohamad revealed that he was questioned by the police earlier yesterday over allegations that the Agong was reading a prepared speech from the government in his royal address to the Parliament.
He said he was surprised that he was somehow involved in the investigation, which is being carried out under the Sedition Act 1948.
“I don't know heads or tails of this, but I was interviewed just now […]
“Since I told the police that I choose not to answer the questions, therefore I likewise choose not to answer questions from (you) reporters,” he said.
The remark that the Agong was merely reading from a speech prepared by the government came from Kit Siang on March 7, who has stood by his statement.
Following Kit Siang's statement, three individuals have filed police reports over the matter against Kit Siang, Mohamad, and Malaysiakini.
One of the complainants Mohd Khairul Azam Abdul Aziz said: "After reading the news fully, I have found that it is a direct insult to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"Lim Kit Siang and Mohamad Sabu who gave their views and Malaysiakini which aired (the views) clearly have the intentions and motives to belittle the institution of the Agong."
The report against Malaysiakini was for publishing Kit Siang's allegedly seditious statements. -Mkini
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