Don’t simply make claims, file a report, says MACC
(Malaysiakin) – The MACC has claimed that despite wide media coverage, the anti-graft body has yet to receive any report on the RM90 million allegedly given to PAS by former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.
According to a report by The Malaysian Insight, an MACC source confirmed no formal report has been filed on the matter.
“Those with legitimate evidence are urged to file a report. Don’t simply make claims.
“We can only initiate an investigation after we’ve received information or a report is lodged,” the source was quoted as saying, adding that those with information would be protected by the Whistle-Blowers Protection Act 2010.
This comes after PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang agreed to settle out-of-court his defamation suit against whistle-blower website Sarawak Report over its article alleging the Islamist party received RM90 million to support BN and Umno.
Hadi had sued Sarawak Report editor Claire Rewcastle-Brown for libel in April 2017 in London over this article.
Hadi’s political secretary Syahir Sulaiman earlier this month said Hadi consented to undisclosed terms of a settlement with Rewcastle-Brown.
Last month, PAS sought public help to raise RM400,000 to meet the cost of the legal suit on top of RM2.5 million it had spent.
Najib has denied ever paying PAS or its president RM90 million.
He stated on Sunday: “It should be reminded that the authorities under Harapan have conducted thorough investigations on my and Umno’s accounts since the 14th general election which has been almost nine months.
“If it is true there was any payment from me or Umno, the Harapan government would have surely taken the opportunity to freeze the PAS president’s or his party’s accounts.”
Recently, a purported audio recording of PAS central committee member Nik Abduh Nik Aziz talking about receiving RM2 million from Umno had resurfaced.
The recording had previously been submitted as evidence by Rewcastle-Brown in the lawsuit and was not contested by Hadi.
Malaysiakini has not been able to independently verify the recording.