MACC will look into 'Mahathir real probe target' claim by sons - Azam

MACC chief Azam Baki said the commission will look into claims made by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s sons that their father is the “primary target” in the graft-buster’s investigation into their finances.

In a short response after being approached by the media, Azam said that he would have to refer to the “facts” before making any statement.

“Let me check the facts first, and then we will tell you (the media),” he said after attending the opening ceremony of the Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence (CCOE) in Putrajaya today.

Azam was responding to claims made by Mokhzani Mahathir and Mirzan Mahathir, who told Bloomberg that their father is the real target of MACC’s string of investigations.

In January, the MACC ordered both Mokhzani and Mirzan to declare their assets dating back to 1981, the year Mahathir became prime minister.

Both were known to be active in the business world and are reputed to have immense wealth.

While it did not reveal the extent to which the 98-year-old politician was being investigated, the MACC said the investigation was being carried out under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

The commission said it started an investigation in August 2022 against all related entities named in the Pandora Papers, as well as the Panama Papers.

The papers are part of investigations into offshore business records revealed by a journalism consortium.

Mirzan and Mokhzani said they have received two extensions of the original February deadlines to comply with an MACC order to declare their assets but are finding it difficult to prepare financial records dating back to the pre-digital era. - Mkini