AN opposition MP has raised the question on the Government’s policy on civil servants receiving and giving gifts.
This is following the reveal by Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s lawyers that three luxury watches seized by police in the Pavilion condo raid in May 2018 were gifts to the former prime minister.
“This is an extraordinary reveal seeing as to how these gifts were given to Najib when he was still the prime minister. Judging by the value of these gifts, it is clear that the gifts were given for certain reasons,” Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng remarked.
During Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) 22 months in power, Lim pointed out that its Cabinet had initiated a policy of not accepting any gifts worth more than RM500 to ensure that civil servants – including ministers – were not involved in corrupt activities.
“This kind of gift-giving culture is not healthy and has no integrity and the PH government was committed to combatting all forms of corruption,” he elaborated.
In April, Lim noted that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) reported that it was drafting amendments to regarding the issue of receiving and giving gifts to civil servants, adding that most government agencies already have similar regulations in this matter.
“The question here is whether the Cabinet led by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is also subject to this policy,” Lim said.
“What is the policy for ministers when it comes to receiving and giving gifts? Are they allowed to accept gifts regardless of the value from any individual or company?”
Lim explained that such regulations need to be announced to the public as the issue is one of public interest and should be taken seriously.
“This way, people will be aware of the importance of not giving any gifts to civil servants especially those who hold high positions in the Cabinet,” he added.
During the hearing of a forfeiture application in the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Monday (Sept 26), Najib’s lawyers Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and Tania Scivetti said three of the seven Richard Mille watches that were seized are worth a whopping RM4.51 mil, were gifts from businessmen to the former prime minister.
According to a report by The Edge Markets, two of the watches – one costing RM1.58 mil and the other RM500,400 – were purchased by Datuk (now Tan Sri) Yeoh Seok Ping of YTL fame.
Scivetti said the RM500,400 watch was paid for by Yeoh via Taman Equine (M) Sdn Bhd, while the RM1.58 mil watch was paid for via Syarikat Pembenaan Yeoh Tiong Lay Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, the third watch – costing RM419,300 – was paid for by Datuk (now Tan Sri) Desmond Lim, the lawyer said. – Sept 30, 2022
