A former aide to Dr Zaliha Mustafa has filed a report with the MACC following accusations that the former health minister had failed to report an alleged bribe of RM50 million to scrap the generational endgame (GEG) law on tobacco and vape.
Zaliha’s former political secretary, G Sivamalar, said she decided to lodge the report with the graft busters after her “tribute article” to the former minister, in which she detailed Zaliha’s turning down of the bribe, was “taken out of context and amplified through misquotations”.
“I am lodging a report with the MACC to formally place the full facts on record and to clarify (details). I remain prepared to provide further clarification if needed,” Sivamalar said in a statement today.
She stressed that she had not taken the matter to the anti-graft agency prior to this, as she found no “serious or explicit” bribery offer that met the threshold requiring an immediate report to authorities.
“Had there been (a) clear, direct, or explicit attempt to offer a bribe, it would have been reported to the authorities without hesitation,” said Sivamalar (above), who is also the PKR deputy secretary-general.
In a Dec 18 column for Malaysia Gazette, Sivamalar had praised Zaliha’s “silent bravery” in making the right choices despite potential negative consequences.
Sivamalar said that when faced with tobacco companies and big corporate interests, Zaliha did not budge, pointing to how the latter was once “offered RM50 million to drop the GEG policy, (but) refused without hesitation and asked them to leave”.
While Sivamalar also claimed that she had witnessed the incident herself, she would later contradict her assertion when questioned by CodeBlue over the location and date of the bribe attempt.
“Can’t remember. Definitely not in person,” she reportedly said.
Meeting requests
In her statement today, Sivamalar reiterated that the incident she referred to occurred approximately two years ago, following Zaliha’s announcement that the Health Ministry was preparing legislation related to smoking and vaping products.
The announcement, Sivamalar said, had triggered anxiety among industry players and stakeholders, causing various individuals to attempt to contact the minister’s office to request meetings.
“On one occasion, while I was attending to visitors at the lobby, a person or group requested to meet the minister (Zaliha). When asked about the purpose of the meeting, it became apparent that their intention was to negotiate the withdrawal of the proposed bill, with implied offers being suggested.
“I immediately informed (Zaliha) of this request. She categorically refused to meet anyone and instructed that they be asked to leave. I conveyed this instruction, and the individuals left,” Sivamalar recounted.
She insisted that Zaliha had not met the alleged bribers at any time and had not entertained “any discussions of such nature”.
Yesterday, Zaliha’s predecessor, Khairy Jamaluddin, said the former might have committed a crime if she had been aware of a bribe offer but failed to report it.
Section 25(3) of the MACC Act 2009 states that any person who has become party to a bribe or an attempt to bribe must report the incident and its details to the nearest MACC or police officer.
Section 25(4) of the same Act states that failure to comply with Section 25(3) is an offence and can be punished with a fine of up to RM10,000, a prison sentence of not more than two years, or both.
However, it is unclear if the provisions extend to witnesses.
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) had also urged the MACC to probe Sivamalar’s claims, calling on the anti-graft commission to verify the allegations as well as make its findings public to ensure transparency and accountability. - Mkini
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