Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman today claimed that other MPs from both political divides are also being targeted for corruption investigations.
The Muar MP claimed that when he was at the MACC as part of the investigation against him, he was informed there that many other lawmakers would be threatened and called in by the authorities to be probed.
The former Bersatu lawmaker alleged that these threats are designed to both attract support from lawmakers or for the opposition MPs to defect (to the ruling coalition) during the coming July 26 Parliament sitting.
He claimed that some MPs are scheduled to be called in tomorrow and that the initially scheduled meetings with the authorities for some other MPs have been postponed.
“My message to them (the MPs) is to never ever give in to their (the authorities’) threats. Never be afraid, if one is true and not guilty (of any offence).
“Have faith in the courts and judges to clear our names.
“Do not allow to be threatened before Parliament resumes, whereby we may end up starting to support or for the opposition to defect. We have our principles and dignity
“Whether in the government or opposition, be true to your principles,” Syed Saddiq told the media outside the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex this afternoon.
He was in the midst of leaving the court, after having posted his bail in an RM1.12 million misappropriation case involving Bersatu funds. He has claimed trial to the two charges.
During the media conference this afternoon, Syed Saddiq reiterated that the charges against him were politically motivated and that he would have faith in the judiciary to clear his name.
He added that he would be discussing more on this issue via his Facebook account around 8pm tonight.
'Gross abuse of state institutions'
Meanwhile, later today via a media statement, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih 2.0) expressed grave concerns over Syed Saddiq's claim and that the criminal breach of trust case against him is to pressure him into supporting the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government.
The NGO said that if true, it would tantamount to gross misuse of government regulatory and enforcement institutions to threaten and persecute opposition politicians and dissenting voices to the government of the day.
"This would also illustrate that one of the key factors for party hopping is the threat of prosecution, especially if one stops to be aligned with the government of the day.
"The gross abuse of state institutions, such as the MACC, the police, the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) and the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) should not be tolerated as it undermines multiparty democracy, equal playing field and the rule of law.
"The reason why the government can exert such influence over these institutions and use them as political weapons is that the power to appoint and remove the heads of these institutions is vested in the executive, especially the prime minister," Bersih 2.0 said.
It claimed that such abuses have been observed under the previous BN government with the removal of attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail in 2015 at the height of the 1MDB scandal, among others.
"Bersih 2.0 condemns such grave misuse of government institutions to persecute dissenting voices and calls for reform of these institutions to make them independent of executive influence.
"The process of appointment and removal of key public officers should be independent, transparent, accountable, open to public scrutiny and merit-based.
"Appointments of the MACC chief commissioner and the inspector-general of police should not solely fall under the prime Minister and home minister respectively but be put under the oversight of an independent Parliamentary Select Committee.
"To this end, a Public Appointments and Removal Bill should be enacted to mandate the regulation and oversight of appointment of all key officers to such government institutions. The MACC should be made to report to Parliament instead of to the prime minister.
Bersih 2.0 said that the AGC should be reformed to make the attorney-general the legal adviser of the government without the power to decide on prosecution of cases.
The group said that a separate and independent public prosecutors office should be established.
"The appointment of the attorney-general and the chief public prosecutor should be based on merit and integrity and subject to open, transparent and accountable appointment processes.
"The IRB, too, needs to be made impartial, professional and accountable, to avoid tax-related offences being inconsistently pursued on politicians, activists, and companies that happen to be in the government's bad books," Bersih 2.0 said.
Later in a media statement this afternoon, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said that laws must be implemented objectively in order to ensure the rule of law.
Responding to Syed Saddiq's allegation, the Port Dickson MP said that the rule of law is broken in Malaysia if politicians or individuals close to those in the corridors of power can be freed without punishment, while opposition leaders and their supporters are subjected to selective prosecution.
"The latest incident continues to erode the faith and confidence of investors regarding Malaysia where the country is in chaos due to non-legitimacy of the rulers.
"It gives a picture of how an enforcement body or department only follows political consideration, and this is not a good development for the country as it indirectly signals to potential law-breakers to create closer relations with politicians in power in order to get protection from prosecution," the PKR president said.
Anwar warned that as the upcoming parliamentary sitting nears, the current government would do anything to bully MPs if there is a vote of no-confidence in the Dewan Rakyat.
"I have also been informed by several members of Parliament that those in power are using corruption and threats to support the present failed government, via inducement such as positions and protection from prosecution.
"Therefore, the prosecution of Syed Saddiq is worrying and shows abuse of power. I urge for investigation be carried out with transparency and professionally.
"I also wish to inform PN leaders like the prime minister to stop the abuse of power as well as accept graciously the fact that their support in Parliament is decreasing," Anwar said.
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