PKR: MACC must return RM5 million ‘donation’ to govt

Opposition party calls for Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to take moral stand not to accept any form of donation, gifts as it could be seen as a bribe.

PETALING JAYA: PKR wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to return the RM5 million allocation from the government to Yayasan Prihatin, an organisation formed to provide welfare support for the anti-graft agency’s employees.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said in a statement today that such a contribution, as announced by Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday, has an implication on MACC’s investigation into 1MDB.

“MACC should take a moral stand on the issue and return the RM5 million ‘donation’ to the government.

“Doing so would also see MACC set a good example that not only bribes should be refused but also any form of gifts or donations that can be seen as a bribe, should also be rejected,” Fahmi said.

Yesterday, while speaking at the commission’s 50th anniversary celebration at its new complex in Putrajaya, Najib said the amount given by the government was also a symbol of his own support for MACC.

Najib said he appreciated the hard work MACC’s officers had put in to eradicate corruption, stressing that the problem posed a threat to the country.

Hence, he said the government needed to give back to them for their efforts by providing moral support over their welfare.

Fahmi said the contribution can also be seen as having an impact on MACC’s screening of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates for the next general election (EC) with Najib being the BN chairman.

“It is difficult to avoid this sudden allocation from being seen as some form of a gift or donation that is politically motivated,” Fahmi said.

The MACC is just one of the agencies in the country investigating 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion that had been deposited in Najib’s personal bank accounts in 2013, which was later said to be a donation from a member of the Saudi royal family.

Attorney-General Mohamad Apandi Ali had in January 2016 cleared Najib of any wrongdoing over the issue of the RM2.6 billion deposit.

Aside from PKR, the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) had also criticised the RM5 million allocation, calling for Parliament to monitor all contributions to MACC.

“We are concerned this will pull the wool over the eyes of MACC,” C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel told FMT. -FMT