Umno man calls for transparency in MACC’s probes

Umno man calls for transparency in MACC’s probes

Puad Zarkashi says the anti-graft agency should not be 'too secretive' in conducting its investigations.

Umno’s Puad Zarkashi says that without the disclosure of suspects’ identities and reasons for MACC’s investigations, the public will engage in a ‘guessing game’.
PETALING JAYA:
An Umno Supreme Council member has urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to disclose to the public the identity of those being investigated and why, to prevent speculation.

Puad Zarkashi also said the anti-graft agency should not be “too secretive” in conducting its investigations.

“Disclose promptly. Just reveal who is being investigated and why. Don’t let the public play a guessing game.

“Don’t engage in stonewalling,” he said in a Facebook post.

He gave the example of claims on social media, that MACC was investigating Chief Secretary Zuki Ali, which the agency later denied.

Puad also referred to a viral video of a house belonging to a “Tan Sri” being raided by MACC.

“The identity of this Tan Sri was not disclosed. Why?” he asked.

Yesterday, MACC said the agency was set to summon several people, including a former finance minister, a businessman, and key government officials, as part of an investigation into a RM4.5 billion contract for procuring and managing the government’s fleet of vehicles.

MACC chief Azam Baki, who confirmed the raid on the businessman’s residence and four companies on Thursday, said a “long list” of people would be called up to explain two issues, The Star reported.

“We want to find out why this company was given the job to manage the government’s vehicles,” he was quoted as saying.

“Secondly, we also want an explanation of why the intention to give this (same) project to another company was cancelled, despite having received a letter of intent from the finance ministry.”

Azam said the anti-graft agency would call up the former finance minister to “shed light on the two questions”, as well as a former prime minister “to determine if he was aware of the matter as it happened during his administration”.

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