MACC to meet Anwar on Daim issue

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will take on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s offer to assist them in their investigations on former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.

Its deputy chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull, said in a statement today, the commission also welcomed any quarters with evidence to cooperate with the MACC.

“Anwar claimed to have concrete evidence regarding this case. We have also interviewed Tun Daim recently.

“The statement given by Daim, Anwar and other witnesses will be resubmitted to the Deputy Public Prosecutor and then to the Operations Review Panel (PPO), the independent body that monitors MACC’s operations,” he said.

Yesterday, Anwar said he was willing to cooperate with the MACC if an investigation is conducted on Daim.

Anwar said, it was his responsibility to help facilitate investigations but urged MACC personnel to be professional when carrying out their duties.

Meanwhile Mohd Shukri said, investigations on Daim were already carried out by the MACC in 1998 and it was decided at that time that no further action be taken.

“The investigation had been carried out by the Anti-Corruption Agency (now MACC) in 1990 and the deputy public prosecutor who examined the case at that time decided no further action be taken.

“The MACC believes that anti-corruption efforts can be carried out effectively if every member of society cooperates with the commission,” he said.

Anwar had previously claimed to have ‘proof’ of Daim’s alleged abuse of power and hoped the MACC will not focus its investigations solely on Daim’s banking business.

The opposition had lodged a report 15 years ago against Daim, accusing him of amassing billions of ringgit in African and Eastern Europe banks through proxies.

Several other opposition leaders including PKR Vice-president , Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin have urged the MACC to investigate Daim on the same allegations.

But Daim have refuted those claims and stressed he will cooperate with the MACC and was confident the anti-graft commission has the capability to carry out the probe effectively.