KUALA LUMPUR, July 1 ― DAP MP Tony Pua asked today if it was considered “normal practice” for the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to dismiss scandals involving local institutions like Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) and leave them to other enforcement agencies to investigate.
In a statement, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP noted that when clarifying his remarks on the matter yesterday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had said that the police would only investigate MARA's controversial RM65 million Melbourne apartment purchase if local graftbusters identify any element of criminal breach of trust (CBT) in the transaction.
“Is it a standard operating procedure of the Royal Malaysian Police today to abdicate investigations of high profile cases to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)?
“Can the IGP, in such a cavalier fashion, just dismiss the international scandal by saying that 'I’m sure if there are elements of CBT, MACC will let us know'?” Pua asked, quoting IGP Khalid's reported remarks.
“Malaysians cannot figure out why is the IGP can take such a relaxed attitude towards such sizeable crime and corruption taking place within our government institutions,” he added.
Yesterday, Khalid explained to reporters that the police will start an investigation into MARA Inc's Melbourne deal if there is an element of CBT found tied to the transaction.
He said this when asked to explain his remark on Monday that the police have not begun investigations on the controversial buy by the property investment subsidiary of MARA, the federal Bumiputera empowerment agency.
“Who said there is no investigation? I only informed that there is no element of CBT at the moment,” the IGP said in an anti-human trafficking event at Cheras.
“And this investigation is started by MACC since March and will continue. If there is CBT, MACC will inform us,” he added.
MACC had started “profiling” the individuals and companies related to MARA Inc’s purchase that was said to be overpaid by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) after receiving tip-offs last March.
MACC then received a visit from Australian police last month, where both agencies exchanged information and started a joint investigation, he said, adding that a few individuals have been called up to have their statements recorded.
Last Tuesday, Australian paper The Age reported that a senior MARA official and two “elite” Malay businessmen were involved in corruption related to the Malaysian government agency’s A$22.5 million purchase of Dudley House in Melbourne.
According to The Age, an eight month-long investigation by Fairfax Media, its parent publishing house, revealed that this group of “super-rich Malaysian officials” had spent government investment funds to push up the price of the student housing block that was built for A$17.8 million, but inflated by A$4.75 million to A$22.5 million.
