Contents of MACC letter on sacked PKR leader were 'serious', says Anwar

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim said the contents of the MACC letter on Zakaria Abdul Hamid's alleged graft wrongdoing and who the party subsequently sacked, were "serious".

Anwar said the allegations were so serious that he had requested to read the letter himself.

"I asked for the letter from party disciplinary board chairperson (Ahmad Kassim) as I was not confident that the matter was so serious," he said.

He added that while the MACC had admitted it had made a mistake in sending the letter to PKR as it was only intended for government agencies, the commission did not dispute the contents of the letter.

"They (MACC) said they sent the letter by mistake but did not dispute its contents. The letter was quite serious and our party must be firm in combating abuse of power and corruption," he said.

He said the matter should not be downplayed due to technicalities.

"There was evidence of wrongdoing, abuse of power, bribery, these are serious. If we take it lightly on technical grounds, then it becomes difficult," he said.

However, he said Zakaria, who was Works Minister Baru Bian's former political secretary, can appeal against his sacking.

The MACC investigation against Zakaria was based on an audio recording purportedly of him offering government contracts during the PKR elections last year.

Zakaria had contested and won a PKR leadership council position, garnering the eighth highest number of votes.

PKR vice-president Zuraida Kamaruddin, who is also the Ampang MP, had criticised the fact that Zakaria was not asked to explain himself before he was sacked and accused the party leadership of selective justice.

Asked to respond to Zuraida's accusation, Anwar said she was welcome to highlight active investigations which PKR could act on.

"There has been no (other) investigation paper that has been referred to us by the MACC or the police. If there are, we will take action.

"If there is a sentence in court, as in the case of the Ampang PKR Youth chief or a letter from the MACC, we will take action.

"If there are others, inform us. Even if she doesn't attend meetings, she can send a letter and we will scrutinise it," he said.

Yesterday, the Kuala Lumpur High Court affirmed former Ampang PKR Youth chief Adam Rosly Abdullah's six-month jail term and RM30,000 fine for furnishing false information to the MACC.

He had allegedly claimed he renovated his bungalow with money from an "Ah Long" (loan shark) and from his grandmother.

Anwar said those who were present during the meeting would understand the seriousness of the allegations against Zakaria as the MACC's letter was read out.

"The importance of being present at the meeting is that the contents of the letter were read out, read by the disciplinary board chairperson and by myself and there was unanimity (to sack Zakaria).

"Because we read and we realised that the MACC had conducted a detailed investigation, had called up the officers, staff and the other party members mentioned and they gave the following recommendations," he said.

The letter had recommended that disciplinary action be taken against Zakaria.

However, MACC deputy chief commissioner Azam Baki yesterday said the letter was intended only for government agencies and was not to be sent to PKR. - Mkini