KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said he was not aware that Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull had previously tried to meet with Cabinet ministers over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
The former deputy prime minister, who was with former Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, said:
“That is outside my knowledge. Me? I don’t know... Datuk Hisham did you see him.”
He said this at a press conference after the Umno supreme council meeting.
When pressed whether the latter had attended such a meeting with other cabinet ministers, Zahid - who was also former Home Minister, replied:
“I don’t know...we are not in the cabinet now.”
Earlier today, Shukri - in a tell all press conference, revealed that he had met with the then-Cabinet to discuss replacing Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who was prime minister at the time.
Shukri said that he and the former MACC chief Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed had met some ministers in the cabinet to convince them to take action against Najib when their investigations found that RM2.6 billion and RM42 million was believed to have been transferred from SRC International Sdn Bhd into the then premier’s personal account.
Shukri said only three ministers dared to speak on the matter, namely former Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, former Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and former Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah.
Meanwhile, Zahid said that he took no issue with MACC questioning Najib on 1MDB but stated that the authorities should adhere to procedures.
“I feel that this is the MACC procedure. As long as it is done at proper timing...I feel this SOP has to be respected by everyone.
“We do not agree when it takes place during improper times.”