KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr James Jemut Masing yesterday called on the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) not to practise selective prosecution.
Masing was referring to MACC’s action in filing 41 civil forfeiture suits to recover some RM270 million belonging to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that were purportedly disbursed from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s AmBank account.
“Some of the heads of these institutions are now in government positions.
“Therefore, MACC without fear of favour must call them to testify. Selective prosecution can’t be allowed,” he said in a statement.
Masing added that the court, however needs to decide whether the acquisition of these funds was indeed acquired via fraudulent means.
“Once that is proven by the court, then such institutions and its respective heads, at the time of receiving the fund, must be made accountable.
“All heads and chairmen of the institutions during that material time are accountable to pay back the money,” he said.
He said that should include former chairman of Kedah and Johor Umno, Dato’ Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Muhyiddin Yassin respectively.
“But if they were no longer chairmen of the respective state Umno at that particular time, then they are not accountable,” added Masing.
Mukhriz had said that he did not know about the fund when he was the Kedah Umno chairman, adding that matters on money were entrusted to the treasurer Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim.
MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said the lawsuits had been filed against individuals and entities including political parties like Umno.
She said the MACC have succeeded in filing a forfeiture application under the Anti-Money Laundering Act to forfeit properties and monies that were disbursed or misused from 1MDB.
“For the time being we have identified 41 individuals or entities as respondents,” she said.
Latheefa was reported to have said that Umno was the biggest recipient of the money as the former ruling party received more than RM200 million in multiple separate transactions at state and division levels.
