‘MACC THE ONE WHO CLEARED MUSA AMAN, NOT ME’ – NAZRI DROPS BOMBSHELL: MY STATEMENT BASED ON WHAT THEY WANTED ME TO ANNOUNCE, SAYS EX- LAW MINISTER

FORMER cabinet minister Nazri Aziz today distanced himself from claims that it was he who had cleared former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman of corruption allegations in 2012.

Yesterday, after he was slapped with 35 charges of corruption, Musa came out of the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex and told reporters he was surprised by the action against him as the allegations were cleared in Parliament around 10 to 14 years ago.

“Why (is it an issue) again? It was cleared by the minister in charge at the time, in Parliament, (by) Nazri Abdul Aziz,” Musa had said.

Nazri, however, told The Malaysian Insight today that it was the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) that had cleared Musa.

“It was the MACC, it wasn’t me,” Nazri said, adding that all statements made inside or outside parliament regarding the corruption allegations then were endorsed by the MACC.

“I cannot make personal statements as the MACC is an independent body.

“As a minister, I cannot interfere with the MACC’s findings. My statement was based on what they wanted me to announce,” Nazri told The Malaysian Insight.

Former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman had questioned the timing of the charges against him yesterday, saying that he had been cleared by Nazri Aziz in 2012. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, November 6, 2018.

Nazri, who was the de facto law minister in 2012, had told Parliament that the Attorney-General’s Chambers had found no element of corruption in the evidence furnished by the MACC at that time.

“Musa shouldn’t have quoted me as I do not have power over an independent body. It was wrong of him to name me since I was only a minister,” Nazri said.

He further added that since Musa has been charged in court, it would be sub judice, and he could be held in contempt, if he commented further on the case.

Musa was charged yesterday with 35 counts of corruption for allegedly receiving bribes of RM243 million for awarding timber concessions in Sabah to more than 15 companies between 2004 and 2008.

In May this year, Sabah DAP lodged a police report against Musa over corruption allegations linked to the timber concessions.

The report was triggered by a viral message on social media alleging 81 corruption offences committed by Musa and a list of nominees.

the malaysian insight