The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has called upon all quarters to refrain from issuing conflicting statements on ongoing investigations into the bungalow issue involving Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng.
“It must be noted that each corruption investigation will differ in terms of collecting evidence, authenticating documents and recording witnesses statements.
“All this will cause the investigation time involved to also differ (in each case),” said the MACC in a statement.
The MACC was responding to claims from several quarters that the MACC has been delaying investigations into the case, which had triggered heated debates between Lim and his detractors.
The main issue centres around claims that Lim last July purchased his bungalow at below market price, allegedly in exchange for selling state land in Taman Manggis, also at a cheap price.
MACC investigation director Azam Baki, meanwhile, was similarly quoted in news reports today stressing that the anti-graft body will conduct its investigations in a transparent manner and without undue pressure from any parties.
Among others, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan, Parti Cinta Malaysia and lawyer Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan were among parties who had reportedly urged MACC to speed up its probe on Lim.
Lim himself had at the onset of the issue encouraged the MACC to probe him swiftly.
At the same time, MACC in its statement also said the ongoing investigations as well as the RM100 million graft case involving a Youth and Sports Ministry officer, has nothing to do with an MACC officer who was recently convicted for corruption in court.
It was reported last week that an MACC officer based in Putrajaya, Kenny Chua Boon Meng, was sentenced to three months in prison and fined RM3,000, or another three months' jail, for cheating a police officer of RM20,000. -Mkini
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