PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has been criticised for jumping to premature conclusions even before investigations had begun when it filed a police report against whistleblower Lalitha Kunaratnam.
Lalitha’s lawyer, Manjeet Singh Dhillon criticised a police report filed by MACC senior assistant commissioner Mohan Munusamy which said her articles were factually wrong and implying that senior enforcement officials are corrupt just because of their involvement in business.
He said Lalitha stood by the articles she wrote about chief commissioner Azam Baki and his shareholdings. She reiterated that the analysis was based on facts and information contained in the database of public records, regulatory reports and corporate financial filings.
Manjeet said MACC should have no role to play in any investigations against its own chief commissioner.
Azam and MACC have come under public criticism when it was revealed that he was the owner of a million shares in a public-listed company. Lalitha had written two articles based on allegations in a blog giving details of the shares.
Manjeet said Mohan’s police report drew “premature ‘know-all’ conclusions concerning his boss’s conduct, even before the commencement of any probe into it”. He added that the police report “hardly inspired confidence” in any role that MACC could play in any intended investigation.
Manjeet said Lalitha welcomed the call by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and home minister Hamzah Zainudin for an investigation into Azam’s role and his share dealings. She said it should be done by a credible and independent body with no hint of bias or conflict of interest.
Azam has issued a letter of demand for a public apology and payment of RM10 million in damages for allegedly tarnishing his reputation, in preparation for filing a defamation suit. - FMT
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