Gambling fund: Azalina denies saying MACC halted probe into PN
TUAN BUQHAIRAH TUAN MUHAMAD ADNAN
PUTRAJAYA - Legal and Institutional Reform Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman denies saying that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has halted its investigation into allegations that Perikatan Nasional (PN) received funds from gaming companies to fund its 2022 general election campaign.
She said the MACC, as an independent and neutral body, has to carry out investigations and open investigation papers in accordance with the Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 [Act 694] or any other law based on information and evidence obtained from time to time.
"I would like to emphasise that my response in the Dewan Rakyat on behalf of MACC did not indicate that any investigation in connection with the allegations has been terminated or dropped.
"At the same time, it should be emphasised that apart from MACC, there are also other agencies that are responsible and powerful, including the police (PDRM) and the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), to investigate any criminal offence committed by any organisation," she said in a statement today.
National law does not have any time limit for initiating any action on a criminal case, she added.
Therefore, she said it is inappropriate for any party to politicise or distort the response provided to Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) regarding this matter or to make baseless accusations against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
"I call on all parties to respect the principle of "rule of law", and not make rash conclusions based on the answer given in Dewan Rakyat," he said.
Azalina (BN-Pengerang) gave a written answer in Dewan Rakyat on Thursday confirming that no investigation file had been opened against PN on allegations of receiving donations from gambling funds during the 15th General Election (GE15) campaign.
She said that MACC had conducted a detailed investigation into the allegations made by Anwar after chairing his first Cabinet meeting last December.
On Dec 5, Anwar hinted that part of the PN's election funds came from gambling companies involved in special gambling draws.
