KUALA LUMPUR: Senior lawyer Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla emphasises the need for genuine and unbiased efforts in the fight against corruption and abuse of power.
He said it is essential to address lingering questions surrounding Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to this cause. Is it a sincere dedication or driven by personal interests?
Haniff was commenting on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) seizure of Ilham Tower, which Tun Daim Zainuddin's family members allegedly owned as part of an investigation initiated against the former finance minister.
Haniff affirms Daim's right to contest the motives behind the MACC's actions and, likewise, the MACC's right to justify their investigation.
"The truth will be determined in court based on evidence and legal principles.
"It's crucial for the public to understand that initiating an investigation differs greatly from gathering evidence for a successful prosecution in court."
He said the collection of evidence, especially in commercial crimes like corruption, heavily relies on banking and financial records.
"However, such documents are typically discarded after six years, making it challenging to obtain evidence for older allegations.
"Hence, it's essential for authorities to initiate investigations promptly without any political interference, avoiding blame for older allegations where gathering sufficient evidence is almost impossible.
"Political interference, whether to stall or direct investigations, is unacceptable and can be seen as politically motivated actions or revenge," he said.
Haniff draws attention to the notable absence of action on other corruption scandals, specifically mentioning the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) scandal and the investigation into Sarawak's Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, brought to light by the Pandora Papers revealed in the Sarawak Report.
Highlighting the existing audit and Parliamentary reports, Haniff asserts that a fair investigation into the LCS scandal should be straightforward.
However, he raises lingering questions about the lack of action and whether leaders such as Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, along with Umno members supporting Anwar, are involved.
"The failure to continue a thorough investigation into the LCS scandal could undermine Anwar Ibrahim's anti-corruption stance, appearing as mere political rhetoric."
Haniff said this goes the same with the investigations into Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
"Given the investigation into Daim based on the Pandora Papers, should the MACC not investigate Taib, given the Sarawak Report disclosures?
"Failure to address concerns about Taib's case could cast doubt on Anwar's commitment to combating corruption, appearing more as political manoeuvring."
He reiterated that Malaysians are eager to combat corruption but insisted efforts should be sincere, fair, and impartial, not driven by personal or political interests.