MARA property scandal: MACC would tackle, not just concede to, challenges

The investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) investment arm, MARA Inc.property purchase scandal will be done to the core of the issue despite challenges.

Commenting on the progress of the investigation of this scandal, MACC investigation division director Datuk Mohd Jamidan Abdullah stressed that they would concede defeat and will carry out the investigations in a fair manner.

All parties involved have been cooperating in the investigation but the challenges arise in terms of having access to the wealth of information from the countries abroad, he told Astro AWANI at its headquarters here, Monday.

Mohd Jamidan however stressed that he will consistently stand firm and highly-committed in resolving the issue which had caused a national uproar late last year.

"A fair investigation would continue to be conducted and we don't expect any mere inquiry that would be seen a hindrance in the measures taken to solve the case.

“We need to look at this thoroughly and we do not want an inquiry that would seem deliberate to prove something that isn’t there," he added.

He explained that MACC has been professional in carrying out a thorough investigation in identifying the root of the problem with no intention to tarnish the image of any individual.

Recently, MARA Council has decided to temporarily relieve MARA Inc. chairman and CEO to facilitate investigation linked to the controversial MARA property purchase in Melbourne, Australia.

The purchases came to light after a report by Australian newspaper, The Age reported that a ‘top’ MARA officer, senior officials and ex-politician had allegedly spent millions of government funds to purchase an apartment block in Melbourne in a property scam.

The report alleged that several super-rich Malaysian officials overpaid by a whopping A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) for Dudley International House in 2013.