TWICE former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hit back at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for making his eldest son and billionaire businessman Mirzan Mahathir a scapegoat in the corruption allegation against him (Dr Mahathir).
This is given many names of government supporters, too, have surfaced in the Pandora papers such as the Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, Selayang MP William Leong Jee Keen and International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz “who are not investigated and far from being charged”.
“There are also the names of several businessmen such as Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay (Genting Bhd CEO), Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib (son of Sarawak Governor Tun Taib Mahmud), Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King (Rimbunan Hijau Group founder), Tan Sri Larry Low Hock Ping (father of fugitive financier Jho Low), Datuk Yamani Hafez Musa (son of former Sabah chief minister Tan Sri Musa Aman) and the late Tan Sri G. Gnanalingam (former Westports Holdings Bhd chairman) in the Pandora papers,” asserted Dr Mahathir in a Facebook post.
“But instead, my son (Mirzan) was threatened that if he does take any action that the prosecutor considers contrary to the allegations levelled against him, he will be imprisoned for five years. There was no mention that he will be brought to court.”
Yesterday (Jan 18), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) confirmed that it had summoned Mirzan to its headquarters in Putrajaya to assist with an on-going investigation.
“This order is an extension of MACC’s investigation pertaining to the information in the Panama Papers report as well as his business activities involving the sale and purchase of government-linked companies (GLCs),” the anti-graft agency pointed out in a media statement.
“The investigation is conducted under the MACC Act 2009 as well as the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorist Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA).”
For the record, Mirzan has showed up at the MACC Headquarters at 9.30am on Wednesday (Jan 17) whereby a notice order was delivered to him under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009 which required him to declare all movable and immovable assets in his possession whether in inside or outside the country within 30 days from the date of the notice.
Earlier, Dr Mahathir said Anwar had accused him of having billions of ringgit in his possession by abusing his power while he was the country’s premier for 22 years 1981 and 2003.
“I requested proof of the truth of this statement. But Anwar did not provide evidence following which I sued Anwar for defamation against me (for RM150 mil on May 5 last year),” he noted.
“I requested the evidence to be presented in court but a year has passed. No evidence is shown. Last but not least, the evidence is said to be with (national oil corporation) PETRONAS. But PETRONAS is under Anwar.” – Jan 19, 2024