Azalina Stop Politicking Twisting My Gambling Fund Remark

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Azalina Othman Said has urged all quarters to refrain from politicising or twisting her statement that the MACC was unable to verify claims that Perikatan Nasional (PN) had used proceeds from gambling companies for its 15th general election (GE15) campaign.
According to the minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform), the anti-graft agency did not open an investigation paper into the allegation for the time being as the information garnered was very general, but it does not mean it would be status quo.
“I would like to stress that the answer I gave in Dewan Rakyat on behalf of the MACC did not state that investigations into the matter have been discontinued or dropped.
“On the contrary, MACC just stated that no investigation paper was opened since the information garnered thus far is too general,” she said in a statement today.
“In this case, the MACC, as a neutral and independent body, has the right and will conduct other related probes, as well as open investigation papers under the relevant laws, based on information and evidence gathered from time to time,” the Umno leader added.
Azalina (above) announced that the MACC was unable to verify the gambling funds claim in a written parliamentary reply yesterday to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who asked for the status of the investigation into the case.
Following the remark, PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to issue a public apology for making the claim last December.
PN chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin has also said that he is discussing with lawyers over potential legal action to be taken against Anwar on the matter.
Elaborating, Azalina said that aside from MACC, other agencies such as the police and the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) are also empowered to probe crimes committed by any entity.
“Malaysian law does not have any time limit to initiate action on any criminal case.
“Therefore, it is unfair for any quarters to politicise or twist the answer I gave to the Pasir Mas MP in Dewan Rakyat in this case, or make baseless accusations against the prime minister.
“I urge all quarters to respect the rule of law and not jump to conclusions on the answer given in Dewan Rakyat.” - Mkini

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