Lack Of Info Claim In Alleged Mining Scandal Probe Absurd Says Ramkarpal

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Former deputy law and institutional reform minister Ramkarpal Singh said the leaked videos implicating several assemblymen had revealed enough information for MACC to invoke various measures under the law. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Former deputy law and institutional reform minister Ramkarpal Singh today dismissed the claim that insufficient information was hampering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into the alleged mining scandal in Sabah, describing it as “absurd”.

In a statement, he said the anti-graft agency had “vast powers of investigation at its disposal” under the MACC Act.
He added that the leaked videos implicating several assemblymen had revealed enough information for MACC to invoke various measures under the law including the powers of search and seizure, the seizure of movable property, and the interception of communications and investigations into the accounts of suspects.
“Azam’s statement seems to indicate that MACC has not, or is unwilling to investigate the matter beyond the videos that have surfaced, which would certainly erode public confidence in MACC,” he said, referring to the agency’s chief commissioner, Azam Baki.
Azam was recently reported as saying that a lack of information made it difficult for MACC to carry out a thorough investigation.
He said all that MACC could do was to record statements from both sides.
However, Ramkarpal said Azam’s remarks were unacceptable.
“Azam’s statement suggests a very shallow approach to the investigations into this case and may imply that MACC is not taking such investigations seriously, which could lead to speculation of selective prosecution,” he said.

Earlier this month, a Sabah Umno MP questioned the delay in investigations into the alleged mining corruption scandal, and called for those involved to be charged in court.
Azam said last month that MACC had completed its probe into the purported whistleblower and a former CEO of a company linked to the alleged scandal.
He said the investigation process related to the case had been completed, with the investigation papers submitted to the deputy public prosecutor for follow-up action. - FMT

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