Allegation of POWER ABUSE surfaces again against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. This time about alleged instructions to MACC to NOT INVESTIGATE former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador and to investigate ...
On Thursday, Bloomberg cited three informed sources as saying that Anwar had instructed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief, Azam Baki, not to investigate his former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador over the controversial purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.
The report also claimed that Azam had told MACC officials that the investigations into former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his three sons and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin were launched on Anwar's instructions.
This is not the first time that a Bloomberg report was denied. The last time was about some proposed casino discussion..someone was also charged for Sedition by reason of his comments arising from matters raised in that media report...
Bloomberg News reported in April that Malaysia was in early discussions with tycoons on opening a casino in Forest City, a property development in Johor state near Singapore.
The report, which cited people familiar with the matter, said Mr Anwar discussed the idea with Berjaya founder Vincent Tan and Genting Group’s Lim Kok Thay. - Straits Times, 14/5/2024
In this earlier case, I believe that Bloomberg NEVER retracted the report, or made an APOLOGY for a 'False Report", based on now confirmed BAD sources. PM Anwar and others could have commenced a DEFAMATION Suit against Bloomberg, but that did not happen.
Now, in this latest 'allegations' that has been made - it is an ALLEGATION of abuse of power by our Prime Minister to MACC(or its Chief) as to not investigate/prosecute someone, and to investigate/prosecute some others.
Remember that Anwar Ibrahim was charged and convicted for similar abuse of power offences, and sentenced to jail - where the sentenced was served. One would naturally have believed that he would have repented, and will not ever again repeat similar offences of ABUSE OF POWER now that he is Prime Minister. Did Anwar abuse his power again?
For information, the charges then in 1998/1999 was as follows:
(English translation of the charges) from High Court Judgment [1999] 2 CLJ 215
First ChargeThat you, from 12 August 1997 until 18 August 1997 at the Official Residence of the Deputy Prime Minister, No. 47, Damansara Road, in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, while being a Member of the administration, to wit, holding the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and in such capacity committed corrupt practice in that you, directed Dato' Mohd Said bin Awang, Director of the Special Branch and Amir bin Junus, Deputy Director II of the Special Branch, Royal Malaysian Police, to obtain a written statement from Azizan bin Abu Bakar addressed to YAB Prime Minister denying his allegation of sodomy as contained in his "Pengakuan Bersumpah" dated 5 August 1997, which they obtained as directed, in the form of a written statement dated 18 August 1997, for your advantage, to wit, to save yourself from embarrassment, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(1), Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 22/1970.
Second Charge
That you, on 27 August 1997 at the Official Residence of the Deputy Prime Minister, No. 47, Damansara Road, in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, while being a Member of the administration, to wit, holding the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and in such capacity committed corrupt practice in that you, directed Dato' Mohd Said bin Awang, Director of the Special Branch and Amir bin Junus, Deputy Director II of the Special Branch, Royal Malaysian Police, to obtain a written statement from Azizan bin Abu Bakar to deny the allegation of sodomy as contained in his "Pengakuan Bersumpah" dated 5 August 1997, which they obtained as directed, in the form of a Kenyataan Umum, for your advantage, to wit, you used it for the purpose of protecting yourself from any criminal action, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(1), Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 22/1970.
Third Charge
That you, from 12 August 1997 until 18 August 1997 at the Official Residence of the Deputy Prime Minister, No. 47, Damansara Road, in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, while being a Member of the administration, to wit, holding the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and in such capacity committed corrupt practice in that you, directed Dato' Mohd Said bin Awang, Director of the Special Branch and Amir bin Junus, Deputy Director II of the Special Branch, Royal Malaysian Police, to obtain a written statement from Ummi Hafilda bt Ali addressed to YAB Prime Minister denying the allegations of sexual misconduct and sodomy as contained in her confidential report entitled "Perihal Salah Laku Timbalan Perdana Menteri" dated 5 August 1997, which they obtained as directed, in the form of a written statement dated 18 August 1997, for your advantage, to wit, to save yourself from embarrassment, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(1), Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 22/1970.
Fourth Charge
That you, on 27 August 1997 at the Official Residence of the Deputy Prime Minister, No. 47, Damansara Road, in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, while being a Member of the administration, to wit, holding the post of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and in such capacity committed corrupt practice in that you, directed Dato' Mohd Said bin Awang, Director of the SpecialBranch and Amir bin Junus, Deputy Director II of the SpecialBranch, Royal Malaysian Police, to obtain written statements fromUmmi Hafilda bt Ali denying the allegations of sexual misconductand sodomy as contained in her confidential report entitled"Perihal Salah Laku Timbalan Perdana Menteri" dated 5 August1997, which they obtained as directed, in the form of a Kenyataan Umum dated 29 August 1997, for your advantage, to wit, you used it for the purpose of protecting yourself from any criminalaction, and you have thereby committed an offence punishable under section 2(1), Emergency (Essential Powers) Ordinance No. 22/1970.
When the Federal Court overturned his conviction for SODOMY(the 1st charges), Anwar has already served the sentence for corruption and abuse of power, and thus he was released from prison immediately.
Anwar Ibrahim can DENY the new allegations of abuse of power, but some feel it is BEST that Anwar sues Bloomberg for Defamation. But there is a RISK here, as the truth may emerge during the OPEN TRIAL which may also prove what Bloomberg reported was true. [Most MEDIA will not simply report, unless they feel that news is TRUE, or they have reasonable proof of truth..or valid justification.] Will Anwar sue, or NOT?
Anyway, what should be done now should be the IMMEDIATE Investigation into the alleged crimes of the said former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador. INSIDER TRADING and 'preferential treatment' may be something that may need to be investigated too...
Insider trading is using material nonpublic information to trade stocks and is illegal unless that information is public or not material.
The allegation about Anwar's abuse of power also needs to be investigated. Malaysians needs ASSURANCE that our sitting PRIME MINISTER is CLEAN - and have not abused his power in any way.
Azam Baki too may need to be investigated - for if he did as 'ordered','requested',etc by the Prime Minister - the INDEPENDENCE and credibility of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption
Commission (MACC) comes into question. MACC must always investigate and prosecute ALL law breakers without discrimination. No one, included the government of the day, should affect the INDEPENDENE of law enforcement, prosecution and/or the Judiciary.
'Twice too many' – Calls grow for Anwar to sue Bloomberg over claim he spared Farhash from graft probe
Saying the allegation involves abuse of power, Rafique Rashid urges Cabinet to question Anwar on the issue surrounding his former political secretary.
Calls have gathered momentum for Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take legal action against Bloomberg to clear his name following the financial news outlet's second damning report against him this year, this time involving an allegation of power abuse similar to the charges for which he was jailed two decades ago.
On Thursday, Bloomberg cited three informed sources as saying that Anwar had instructed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief, Azam Baki, not to investigate his former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador over the controversial purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.
The report also claimed that Azam had told MACC officials that the investigations into former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his three sons and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin were launched on Anwar's instructions.
Since coming to power, Anwar has twice renewed Azam's tenure to helm MACC despite attacking the anti-graft chief over allegations of owning millions of listed shares.
The latest claims have been denied by MACC and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), in what lawyer Rafique Rashid said was a similar reaction to Bloomberg's shocking revelation just five months ago that Anwar had met with prominent tycoons to discuss a plan to open a casino in Johor's Forest City.
Authorities had subsequently interrogated several Bloomberg journalists, although Anwar ignored calls to clear his name.
Speaking to MalaysiaNow, Rafique said Anwar should sue Bloomberg for defamation, adding that a statement from PMO was not enough to convince the public.
"It is convenient to issue an official statement every time Bloomberg behaves like this," he said, adding that the allegation this time was more serious.
"It has entered the realm of abuse of power at the highest level because it involves enforcement agencies and the PMO itself," Rafique said.
A similar allegation had led to his imprisonment in 1999, when he was convicted on four counts of abusing his position as deputy prime minister to thwart a police investigation into allegations of sodomy and adultery against him.
In March, it was reported that Farhash - who became chairman of 7-Eleven Malaysia Holdings, owned by billionaire tycoon Vincent Tan, just five weeks after Anwar's appointment as prime minister - had secured a substantial stake in a company shortlisted to develop a new billion-ringgit immigration system.
The 41-year-old PKR leader took a 15.91% stake in HeiTech Padu Bhd through his company Rosetta Partners Sdn Bhd.
Farhash had said Rosetta Partners was a subsidiary of Mfivesouthsea Sdn Bhd, which he jointly owns with Kelantan's Sultan Muhammad V.
The purchase in HeiTech Padu came just a day after MyEG Services Bhd acquired a 14.4% equity interest in the company for RM31.25 million cash on March 11.
That same day, HeiTech Padu announced it had received a one-year extension of its contract to maintain the Malaysian Immigration System (MyIMMs) worth over RM13 million.
HeiTech Padu was one of three companies shortlisted by the government to develop the RM1 billion National Integrated Immigration System (NIISe) project, a replacement for MyIMMs.
Rafique recalled that at the height of the controversy, Anwar had promised to issue a statement after checking with the Treasury.
He said the Cabinet owed it to the public to question Anwar on the matter.
"It has been seven or eight months and there is still no answer.
"Maybe you are busy, but this is the right time to make a statement because otherwise the public will be led to believe (the allegations)," he added.
In April, Anwar denied a Bloomberg report that he had met with tycoons Vincent Tan of Berjaya and Lim Kok Thay of Genting Berhad to discuss a plan to open a casino in Forest City.
"Anwar, senior government officials and the businessmen had lunch and meetings on the possibility of granting what would only be Malaysia’s second-ever casino licence," said the report.
Anwar denied the report, calling it a "lie", but stopped short of saying whether he would seek a retraction from the US-based media group.
Instead, he called on the parties named in the article to "take the necessary action".
This was followed by denials from Berjaya and Genting, two companies involved in Malaysia's gambling industry. - Malaysia Now, 29/9/2024
PMO denies instructing MACC to investigate Dr M
Thursday, 26 Sep 2024
3:35 PM MYT
PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) denied claims that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his sons and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the PMO also denied instructing MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki not to investigate share purchases by Anwar’s former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador.
“The Prime Minister’s Office affirms that the Prime Minister has never issued directives or interfered in investigations conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. The MACC operates as an independent body, acting on the basis of complaints received," Bloomberg quoted the PMO.
"I didn’t take instructions from anyone regarding my investigations," Azam told The Star when contacted.
“As for Farhash, we do not have any ongoing investigations against him,” he added.
However, the report claimed that Anwar - who became Prime Minister in Nov 2022 - had reasons to target his political opponents who oppressed him for years, particularly former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It stated that Mahathir had sacked Anwar from his post as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and expelled him from the party in 1998, before Anwar was arrested and imprisoned for years.
The report suggested that although Anwar had called for independent agencies like MACC to be free of political interference, it appeared that he was seeking revenge.
"The MACC, led by Azam, has opened investigations into at least three of Anwar’s adversaries and their families, including Mahathir, while not yet acting on a complaint by a politician about share purchases by one of the prime minister’s allies," Bloomberg reported.
Citing sources, the report claimed that Anwar and Azam had reached an understanding that Azam would have his term extended as MACC chief commissioner in return for taking action against Anwar’s opponents.
The report also alleged that Azam had informed MACC officials that Anwar himself instructed the agency to investigate Mahathir, his sons, and Daim Zainuddin. Sources added that Azam told agency officials in March not to investigate share purchases by Farhash Wafa Salvador, saying the instruction came from the prime minister. - Star, 26/9/2024
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