MACC denies telling Waytha that cars are not assets

The MACC has denied telling de facto national unity minister P Waythamoorthy that cars are not considered as assets that have to be declared.

Its deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Shamsun Baharin Mohd Jamil (above) told Malaysiakini today that they had never issued such advice to any member of Parliament.

"For the MACC, assets that have to be declared include all kinds of properties, immovable or movable. Movable assets include cars, motorcycles, motorboats, helicopters and so on.

"His (Waythamoorthy's) statement which he referred to MACC was actually referring to an officer from the GIACC (Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre).

“We have never issued such advice to any MP. And any information he has received from the GIACC cannot be considered as MACC's," he said.

Shamsun confirmed that MACC has received an assets declaration form submitted by Waythamoorthy (below) but said that it was incomplete as the minister did not declare any assets as he should.

"This is because he has a different understanding (of assets that have to be declared) as he got his information from the GIACC and not us."

Malaysiakini has reached out to Waythamoorthy's office and is awaiting a response.

The GIACC was formed by the government in June and is headed by former MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed.

Earlier today, Waythamoorthy said he had declared two cars to the MACC but was told it was not considered assets.

"I was informed that MACC does not regard cars as assets, thus the blank column (in my form)," he said.

Yesterday he said he had asked his officers to attach a note to his declaration to the MACC saying that he had no assets to declare. - Mkini