The anti-graft agency said a former minister’s claim that it had intentionally linked him to a court charge was untrue and had tarnished its image.
In a statement, MACC maintained that every investigation that was initiated and the charge brought against any individual was based on genuine evidence and information.
“Investigation papers that have been completed, which would include findings of elements of criminal offences, are referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) for further consideration,” it said.
While MACC did not name the former minister who made the claim against the agency, the graft buster is believed to be referring to former home minister Hamzah Zainudin.
Yesterday, businessman Sim Choo Thiam was charged with demanding RM15 million from another businessman, Hep Kim Hong, sometime in June 2021.
The prosecution said the sum was meant as an inducement for Hamzah to assist Hep’s company, Asia Coding Sdn Bhd, to secure projects from his ministry.
Sim was also slapped with three other charges of receiving RM15 million to secure projects from the home ministry. He pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
Hamzah said it seemed “certain people and businessmen” were pressured into “pointing their finger” at him, claiming that his name was being dragged into matters that did not involve him.
The Perikatan Nasional secretary-general also questioned why MACC had only recorded his statement yesterday evening, after the charges were brought against Sim.
Hamzah is the latest PN leader to be implicated in a corruption scandal after the coalition’s chairman, Muhyiddin Yassin, was charged with several counts of abuse of power and money laundering linked to the Jana Wibawa programme.
Bersatu’s Tasek Gelugor MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan and Segambut Bersatu deputy chief Adam Radlan Adam Muhammad were also charged with accepting bribes in relation to Jana Wibawa.
The Jana Wibawa programme was introduced in November 2020 by the Muhyiddin-led government as a Covid-19 stimulus initiative to help Bumiputera contractors.