PUTRAJAYA, Feb 2 — PKR alleged today that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is deliberately delaying its investigation into bribery claims made against National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) chief Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh Ismail.
Party leaders R. Sivarasa and Zuraida Kamaruddin, after filing a report at the MACC’s headquarters here this afternoon, told reporters that the agency’s officials had failed to provide satisfactory answers over why they had not yet taken action against Mohamad Salleh.
“They were unable to give a clear reason, they said they cannot reveal,” said Sivarasa (picture).
“They said there are a few IOs (investigating officers) handling this case, there are different complaints and that there is a bigger picture... so we said that there are hands behind it making the picture different,” Zuraida said.
The two lawmakers pointed out that the MACC had been in possession of Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail’s handphone for more than a month since his arrest on December 22 last year and was likely aware of the SMSes proving Mohamad Salleh’s guilt.
Shamsubahrin, who has been charged with cheating Mohamad Salleh, had lodged a police report last week claiming he had been pressured and ordered by the latter to bribe the police and convince them to close their file on the scandal-ridden National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project.
According to the 45-year-old businessman, he has proof of this in the form of SMSes sent by Mohamad Salleh to his handphone, which is now being held by the MACC.
“I have proof in the form of an SMS. I was not willing to do so although I was pressured repeatedly. I only replied saying I would try to sort out the matter,” Shamsubahrin had said in his report.
Sivarasa and Zurarida questioned the MACC’s apparent refusal to probe the allegation and accused the agency of practising double standards.
“This tarnishes MACC’s public image as it is clearly giving different treatment to these two individuals.
“Why was it when Mohamad Salleh lodged his report against Shamsubahrin, he (the latter) was arrested within a few days, remanded and charged so quickly?
“MACC must be seen to be taking the same action, with the same efficiency,” Sivarasa said.
Shamsubahrin was recently charged with cheating Mohamad Salleh of RM1.76 million in fraudulent consultancy fees.
The businessman, who is still under remand in Sungai Buloh, was also charged last week with two further counts of cheating.
Zuraida said with the MACC having received PKR’s latest report, the agency now has no reason not to start investigations.
“We expect to see action taken by next week,” she said.
“We gave them a two-week deadline on Tuesday to do something... and we are not just talking about investigations — we are talking about a charge,” Sivarasa said.
