PETALING JAYA: Sabah Umno leader Bung Moktar Radin has accused the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of selective action in its latest move to get back 1MDB funds said to have been channelled to Umno divisions throughout the country.
The Kinabatangan MP also pointed to key former Umno leaders and Barisan Nasional (BN) parties which switched sides after the change of government last year, saying they are missing from the list despite receiving money from Najib Razak.
“Why only go after 41 people? What about the rest?” asked Bung, referring to individuals and entities whom MACC said had received money linked to 1MDB.
Last week, MACC announced civil forfeiture suits against the 41, urging them to return the money to avoid action under anti-money laundering laws.
The anti-graft body also said that the bulk of the total RM270 million had gone to Umno divisions and branches, including Sabah Umno.
Bung questioned the absence of Mustapa Mohamad, the former Kelantan Umno chief who joined PPBM last year, from the list shown by MACC.
Bung said Mustapa, the MP for Jeli and former international trade and industry minister under the Najib administration, was previously summoned to MACC over 1MDB funds allegedly given to Kelantan Umno.
Bung said Sabah-based party Upko, which threw its support behind Pakatan Harapan (PH) after BN’s defeat in the state last year, is also missing from MACC’s list.
The party’s bank accounts have been frozen since last year as part of the 1MDB investigations.
“To me, this is selective prosecution,” Bung told FMT. “Is MACC not trying to recover funds from them? I hope they can clarify this and inform the public.”
Bung meanwhile urged MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya to explain, saying the absence of other recipients of money from Najib smacks of a political witch-hunt.
“We had hoped that Latheefa would do a good job and be fair, but now we have lost confidence,” he added.
Yesterday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng revealed that the list of 41 recipients shown by MACC was just the tip of the iceberg.
He said the list is actually longer, and that he would not know if MACC is drawing up a new list.
“But one thing for sure is that there are more than 41 entities which received money from 1MDB.”
Bung said he believed the latest action was the result of Umno’s growing strength as it enters into a partnership with PAS.
He said denying funds to Umno is a desperate attempt to squeeze the former ruling party of funds, adding that PH is hoping to cover up its failures.
“They cannot deliver on their manifesto promises and the people are questioning their ability to govern.
“This is why PH wants to weaken us and see us suffer without funding,” he said.
Bung repeated his call for proof that the money given to Umno came from 1MDB, adding that critics who make the allegations should furnish evidence.
“Do you have proof that the money is from 1MDB? If you do not, shut up, shut your mouth.” - FMT
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