This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on May 25, 2018
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was finally done with recording former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s statement on SRC International Sdn Bhd (SRCI) yesterday.
It took over six hours of questioning by the anti-graft agency, between 10am and 4.30pm, with a 40-minute break in between. It was also Najib’s second visit to the MACC this week. His first, on Tuesday, took a little over five hours.
“I have done my best in providing my statement and the MACC treated me professionally when questioning me.
“The MACC said the statement-recording session is now complete,” a tired and slightly disgruntled Najib briefed some 50 reporters camped outside of the MACC headquarters just before he left yesterday.
The MACC previously said that it needed to record statements from two more key witnesses before it could begin pressing charges on those implicated with shady dealings made by SRCI.
SRCI was established in 2011 as a unit of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) before it was transferred to the ministry of finance in 2012. The company, which was set up to invest in the energy business, is being investigated by the MACC in relation to the RM42 million allegedly channelled into Najib’s bank account.
There were also allegations of misappropriation and money laundering via the company, which led to its funds parked in BSI Bank in Singapore being frozen, and the bank’s officials investigated by Singaporean authorities.
Presently, the company is also said to have trouble servicing its debts of RM4.3 billion, which came primarily from the Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP).
Separately, also making an appearance at the MACC headquarters in the morning was Xavier Andre Justo, a former employee of PetroSaudi, who made news for leaking information about his former employer’s joint venture with 1MDB.
It is understood that Justo’s visit, which was described as “unannounced” by an MACC officer, was to meet with the 1MDB special task force formed by the Council of Eminent Persons.
He was spotted leaving the premises at about 1.30pm.
Earlier this week, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull elaborated that the agency is leading the investigation into SRCI.
Meanwhile, the newly formed 1MDB special task force is probing other misappropriation of funds in 1MDB, including allegations that RM2.6 billion was channelled into Najib’s bank account.
Najib has denied any wrongdoing in relation to 1MDB, and has insisted that the RM2.6 billion was a donation by a Saudi prince.
Separately, yesterday, Jaringan Melayu Malaysia president Datuk Azwanddin Hamzah also paid the MACC a visit to submit a memorandum on alleged abuse of power by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Azwanddin was spotted entering the MACC headquarters at about 3pm to submit the memorandum.
Also attending the handover was the finance ministry’s former strategic communications director Datuk Lokman Noor Adam.
“There are 12 cases filed with the MACC in the memorandum, including previous reports by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Datuk Seri [Dr] Wan Azizah [Wan Ismail], Lim Guan Eng and many others involving Dr Mahathir,” Lokman told reporters.
“With the new government and the spirit of ‘Malaysia Baru’, we urge the MACC to take action against Dr Mahathir, where I feel some of the cases have not resulted in charge sheets previously,” said Lokman.
Additionally, Lokman said he has submitted a police report on Mohd Shukri for not taking action when the latter was offered a bribe by a member of parliament to halt investigations into 1MDB and SRCI.
Lokman also slammed Mohd Shukri for sharing his ordeal during his involvement in the investigations, claiming that they were sub judice as investigations into the two organisations were still ongoing.