Opposition MPs: MACC must reveal how Rina raised funds to pay debt

 

A group of five opposition MPs has urged the MACC to explain how Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun managed to raise funds to pay off a recent debt.

The lawmakers said the settlement of the debt allegedly does not commensurate with the assets which Rina declared to the MACC and was published last year.

"Any delay in investigating this matter will result in negative public perception of the MACC, which was supposed to be independent, fair and would act with integrity," the group said in a statement.

The group comprises of Salahuddin Ayub (Amanah-Pulai), Amiruddin Hamzah (Pejuang-Kubang Pasu), Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud), Sivarasa Rasiah (PKR-Sungai Buloh) and Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Kulai).

In February, Rina settled a RM1,340,642.02 claim filed by three French companies.

According to the MACC's asset declaration record of cabinet ministers released last July, Rina had a monthly income of RM34,004.48 and assets valued at less than RM1 million.

The MACC no longer makes such information public. The publication of asset declarations was initiated during the Pakatan Harapan administration.

The five MPs issued the statement in response to the MACC's decision to charge Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman with misappropriating RM1.12 million in funds allegedly belonging to Bersatu.

The parliamentarians said they believed that the decision to charge Syed Saddiq was politically motivated.

"It is very suspicious that both charges are made now when the alleged offence took place last year and before the 2018 election," the group added.  - Mkini