KUALA LUMPUR: There will be no favouritism in the investigation by authorities into individuals named in the Pandora Papers, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said stressed that the investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is being conducted according to the existing laws and regulations available in the country.
"Investigation by the MACC into the case is being conducted professionally without interference or influence from external quarters," said Azalina in a written reply, which was published on the Parliament's official website last night (Feb 27).
She was responding to a question by Opposition leader Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin who asked the government to explain why there was no investigation being conducted against 12 individuals including Cabinet members in the unity government named in the Pandora Papers instead of focusing on figures seen friendly to the opposition.
She added that quality information and the document is being prioritised in the investigation by MACC into the case.
"The list of individuals named in the Pandora Papers investigated by the MACC is not known to the general public.
"In line with subsection 29(4) of the MACC Act, the commission is unable to reveal the details (of the names listed in the Pandora Papers)," she said.
Azalina, last year, confirmed that the MACC has launched an investigation into several individuals named in the Pandora Papers for allegations of corruption, power abuse, and fund misappropriation.
She had said that investigations were ongoing and authorities needed additional information from abroad.