KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 — In a rare show of support for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), DAP’s Lim Kit Siang urged Malaysians last night to show their solidarity with the agency by gathering in front of its headquarters in Putrajaya at 10.30 am today.
The DAP parliamentary leader said in an announcement at a forum here that he even plans to skip the funeral of former Farlim assemblyman Loke Swee Chin scheduled for today to show his support for the MACC, whose officers have been rounded up by the police in the probe on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.
“I call upon all MPs whether in opposition or government, and I call upon all lawyers, all Malaysians to come to Putrajaya, MACC to show our support for MACC to continue,” Lim said to thunderous applause in a forum organised by think-tank Research For Social Advancement.
Lim’s call came following the arrests of nine individuals in a police probe on the alleged leaks from an investigation into debt-laden fund 1MDB. The MACC is currently investigating SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB.
Seven of the nine are from the MACC—one of whom is a prosecutor seconded from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), a former MACC advisory board member, and an AGC finance and anti-money laundering secretariat member.
Last night, after questioning three from among the nine, the police raided the office of MACC’s special operations division.
Two MACC officers were detained in the process. Several documents and laptops have also been seized.
Last Saturday, police raided the house and office of Ahmad Sazilee Abdul Khairi, the prosecutor from AGC who was seconded to the MACC, in connection with the 1MDB probe.
In the same forum last night, prominent lawyer Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan also urged so-called captains of local industries to speak out against those who are allegedly compromising Malaysia’s financial system.
“I feel it’s not just the public like us who must speak up, captains of industry must stand up and say that they will not tolerate our financial system being attacked in this way,” said Ambiga, who was one of the panelists.
She directed her criticisms at those allegedly threatening the reputation of Bank Negara Malaysia and its governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, but stopped short of naming these individuals.
Ambiga warned that once the country’s financial system is jeopardised, it will frighten away foreign investors and erode their trust in Malaysia’s economy.
Lim had also called on all former prime ministers, former deputy prime ministers and former ministers to stand up and be counted as patriots, and co-operate in a bipartisan movement to “restore” the country: his “Save Malaysia” coalition.
