MACC should investigate MARA property scandal - TI-M

In light of the alleged property fraud scandal involving Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) as reported yesterday, TI-M president Datuk Akhbar Satar said: "The MACC has power to investigate this matter even though the alleged unlawful transactions may have occurred in Australia as the MACC Act has extra-territorial provisions whereby corrupt acts performed overseas are also deemed as offences committed in Malaysia."

He noted there are provisions allocated in the MACC Act 2009 and Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act (AMLATFPUA) 2001 to probe those involved if investigation proves their corrupt activities.

Akhbar said perpetrators should be brought to justice.

"Officers involved should be punished as they have betrayed the trust by using the tax payers' money for the wrong purposes.

"MACC should also seek assistance from their Australian counterparts to secure evidence," he said in a statement today.

He said, TI-M also wants MACC to not only examine the procurement activities of offshore shelf companies which are related to MARA, but also the money trails, transactions and beneficial ownership of legal entities.

Akbar also welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's call to take stern action on those guilty.

Najib through his Facebook and Twitter posts, had said authorities will conduct comprehensive investigations on the claims, and if any wrongdoing is found, action will be taken.