GE14 | Lawyer Mohd Haniff Khatri Abdulla claimed today that caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak may have committed corruption by giving out fuel cards to taxi drivers and promising to increase civil servants’ wages if BN is reelected.
As Haniff explained in a blog post, since the dissolution of Parliament, the country now has caretaker government.
The lawyer pointed to several reports quoting chief secretary to the government Ali Hamsa as saying that a caretaker government can only continue the policies of the previous government until election day.
As such, the lawyer said, unless it is approved by the cabinet or announced in the national budget of the previous government and approved by the Parliament, the caretaker government has no power to make promises or give gifts to anyone, from either the public or private sectors.
Haniff, who has represented Dr Mahathir Mohamad in several high profile cases, explained that Najib had announced the dissolution of Parliament on April 6, paving the way for the 14th general election to take place.
The lawyer explained that gifts in exchange for votes only amounts to an offence under the Election Offences Act 1954 for the period between nomination day, April 28, to polling day, May 9.
Prior to nomination day, however, such actions may constitute offences under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009.
Citing Section 17(b) of the act, Haniff said makes it an offence for someone to give gifts for the purpose of gaining something.
"Hence, Najib cannot do anything which amounts to a bribe to get votes, and as such the MACC should monitor and prevent such practice immediately.
"Since dissolution Najib could be said to be involved in corruption offences, when he made two announcements.
“On April 4, two days before dissolution, he announced bonuses and wage increments for 1.6 million civil servants.
"Yesterday, a week after the announcement to dissolve Parliament, 67,000 taxi drivers received fuel cards under the Teksi 1Malaysia initiative," he said, urging the MACC investigate the caretaker prime minister for corruption. - Mkini
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