Macc Visits Pkr Hq To Probe Complaints On Membership Irregularities

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MACC officers visited PKR's headquarters on Thursday to investigate a complaint regarding its membership records
A MACC investigator told Malaysiakini that they were attempting to identify the person who allegedly amended the records
"The allegation was that this affected the party's ongoing election," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity
The source said the MACC would likely record a statement from a Sarawakian parliamentarian as part of the investigations
When contacted, MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki said that investigations on the matter were ongoing but declined further comment
PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution confirmed that the MACC paid the party's headquarters a visit and said this was the first time the graft-busters had done so
According to him, MACC officers seized some documents and that a party staffer in charge of membership was brought to MACC's headquarters for questioning
Saifuddin, however, was not present when MACC officers visited the party's headquarters in Petaling Jaya
"I do not know what MACC is investigating, except that they were conducting investigations based on a report lodged to the commission in Kuching
"My staff had also been at the MACC headquarters... I arrived in Penang about 9pm and have been trying to reach him since then,” Saifuddin (photo) said when contacted earlier
"I'm also not sure why our staff who is working in the membership department is being questioned. What corruption can there be since anyone can join PKR for free
"Besides, only the central leadership council (MPP) and political bureau can verify new members," he said
‘Selective probe’Saifuddin also suggested that the MACC was being selective because there were many reports to the graft-busters concerning the PKR elections but only this report was taken up
It is understood that the MACC's probe was a result of a complaint by Sarawak PKR information chief Vernon Albert Kedit on Oct 25
Kedit had urged the MACC to conduct investigations on alleged irregularities in the Julau PKR division's membership list
He claimed that complaints through internal channels were unsuccessful and therefore Sarawak PKR was compelled to turn to the authorities
Saifuddin told Malaysiakini that Julau MP Larry Sng had lodged a police report against Kedit for making a false statutory declaration, but apparently there had been no progress in the investigations, which he said was an example of selective investigations by the authorities
Malaysiakini had in August reported that many PKR divisions saw a huge recruitment spike in June this year ahead of the party polls. The spike in the Julau PKR division was the most drastic
Further checks by Malaysiakini found that 1,181 entries in the Julau PKR division membership list were sharing a pool of 584 party membership numbers.Party elections are currently being held in stages, and expected to end on Nov 11. - Mkini

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