KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) probe into the property purchase in Australia at higher-than-market price is not politically-driven.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Wira Razali Ibrahim said the investigation into the case was not oppression on any quarters despite the person involved being an Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) leader.
“MACC is widening the probe via Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) from Australia.
“It (political motive) has never arisen due to him being Umno BN leader because if one looks back into the cases of people being investigated, BN leaders exceed those from opposition.
“This means that there was no oppression on anyone. If an offence has been committed, we detain.
“If we start arresting several (political figures) names, then support (us). Do not resort to saying that we detain due to politics,” he said.
He was speaking during wrapping up of debate on bill to amend the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.
He was answering Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) over the issue.
Previously in a report by Australian daily The Age, it was alleged that several high-level Mara leaders and a former political leader had spent millions of ringgit of Malaysian government funds.
The spending was purportedly done to purchase an apartment block, Dudley International House, at Melbourne, at a price higher than market price, between 2012 and 2013.
The apartment, a five-storey building measuring 30,279 square feet with 112 rooms including student dormitory, was purchased by Mara as accommodation for Mara-sponsored Malaysian students studying in Australia.
Over 20 individuals were called by MACC to assist its probe regarding the matter.
Reports by Mohd Anwar Patho Rohman, Hidir Reduan, Nur Ain Mohamed Radzi, Luqman Arif Abdul Karim and Siti Mas Erah Amran