The MACC says the A-G's Chambers has returned the investigation papers and no charges were brought against the two assemblymen.
“The MACC would like to announce that investigations on Sri Muda state assemblyman Mat Suhaimi Shafiei and Batu Caves state assemblyman Amirudin Shaari have been completed and (the investigation papers) handed over to the A-G’s Chambers,” the MACC said in a statement.
Teoh El Sen, Free Malaysia Today
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today that it had completed investigations on the alleged sand theft syndicate in Selangor.
However, the Attorney-General’s (A-G) Chambers had returned the investigation papers and had recommended that no further action be taken on the case.
It is not clear why no charges were brought against any individuals, but it is understood that a meeting on Feb 23 with the Operations Review Panel (PPO) may disclose more information on the
investigations into the case.
The PPO is an independent group formed by several people appointed by the government to re-study and review the decision of the A-G.
“The MACC would like to announce that investigations on Sri Muda state assemblyman Mat Suhaimi Shafiei and Batu Caves state assemblyman Amirudin Shaari have been completed and (the investigation papers) handed over to the A-G’s Chambers,” the MACC said in a statement.
It added that the A-G’s Chambers has studied the case and has returned it to the commission,” it added.
Despite the A-G’s decision not to proceed with the case, the MACC today indicated that it may not be the end of the story.
It said that investigation files will be handed over to the PPO.
Different course of action
Besides the sand theft case, other papers that would be submitted to the PPO include the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) scandal and a case involving Abdul Arifffahmi Abdul Rahman, the son-in-law of Kelantan Menteri Besar Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who was implicated in alleged improper dealings of state subsidiaries.
The PPO members are specialists and professionals appointed by the government and the panel is chaired by Hadenan Abdul Jalil (a former auditor-general).
The seven-panel members are Cecil Abraham (solicitor and past deputy president of the Malaysian Institute of Arbitrators), Hamzah Kassim (IA Group CEO), Zamani Abdul Ghani (former special adviser and deputy Bank Negara governor, and current president of Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd), Aminah Pit Abdul Rahman (Amanah Raya Bhd independent non-executive director), Profesor Syed Noh Syed Ahmad (UiTM professor and expert in account forensics), Nik Mohd Hasyudeen Yusoff (Institut Akauntan Malaysia president), and Walter Sandosam (Audit and Assurance Standards Board member).
“MACC will submit these three cases – NFCorp, sand theft, and Abdul Arifffahmi – to the PPO in line with a set of terms of references, among them, to ‘receive and study the report from the commission in relation to the investigation papers (on the three cases) returned by the A-G’s Chambers’.”
The PPO is empowered to recommend to the A-G a different course of action related to these cases.
The MACC reiterated that all information or complaints it received are investigated without fear or favour, and regardless of political leanings, position or power of those involved.
