DAP to know in 6 days if MACC will probe Zahid on RM230mil claim

Text message sent to DAP Youth central committee member by MACC after a report was lodged.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP Youth (Dapsy) will know within six days whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate an allegation that deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had RM230 million in his bank account in 1996.

Dapsy central committee member Jenny Choy, who lodged a report on the allegation with MACC in Ipoh, was informed of this in a text message by the agency.

“The text message was sent on Aug 14 and it read that a decision will be made in seven working days,” said Dapsy national chief Wong Kah Woh.

Wong said the allegation was of public knowledge and needed to be investigated by MACC.

“Initially, MACC said no report had been made and they could not comment on the matter.

“So, Dapsy through Jenny lodged a report to MACC Perak to assist and facilitate the investigation.

“After the report was lodged, MACC said they will only start the probe if there was basis to it,” he said at a press conference today.

Wong said Amanah Youth also lodged a report on the allegation made by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, on Aug 1, revealed that Zahid had RM230 million in his bank account in 1996 when the latter was appointed Umno Youth leader.

Mahathir, who was the premier and Umno president at that time, said Zahid told him of the amount verbally and he had no evidence to support his claim.

Wong said MACC needed to probe Zahid after the allegation was made public and he had not denied it.

On Aug 8, MACC had said it would study the graft allegation made by Mahathir before it could begin to investigate it.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki had said it was important to determine whether or not an accusation contained elements of corruption.

“We receive many allegations of people living in luxury or have great wealth but we must first check whether there are elements of corruption.

“People with many assets may not have accumulated them through corruption. That is my answer for now,” Azam was quoted as saying.

Zahid said last Saturday he was ready to be investigated by MACC while at the same time urging the agency to look into the wealth of Mahathir and his children. - FMT