‘Corrupt’ deputy minister under probe

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has confirmed that it is investigating allegations of corruption against Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin.

Awang Adek along with Advance Maintenance Precision Management Sdn Bhd and Gerbang Perdana managing director Yahya Abd Jalil were allegedly involved in covert dealings.

Details of these dealings were recently revealed by an anonymous blogger, “The Whistleblower 711” on his blogsite.

Also disclosed were the names and transactions between Yahya and two aides working under Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin respectively.

In a statement issued to FMT yesterday, MACC said that it was aware of the contents of the blog and was investigating the allegations against Awang Adek.

The statement, however, failed to mention whether MACC was invetigating Najib and Muhyiddin’s aides.

Top-level informants

On Sunday, FMT reported “The Whistleblower711′s” allegations implicating, and naming, the deputy minister and the two aides.

The blogger claimed to have top-level informants who had named the three government officials and claimed that they had been “bought” by one businessman for the purpose of obtaining contracts from the federal government and its agencies.

The author claimed that the businessman, who is also an Umno leader in Johor, had been channellling several thousands of “monthly contributions” to the government officials.

Proof of these contributions was published in the blog in the form of scans of several cash deposit slips, together with serial numbers.

These were alleged to be the personal accounts of the government officials.

The author claimed that the modus operandi of the businessman was to issue and cash out the cheques at a well-known bank.

Then a deposit, of either a partial or full amount, would be put into the personal accounts of the government officials.

“MACC would like to stress that all allegations or accusations related to any corruption offences, either received or obtained proactively by MACC will be acted upon as provided under Section 29(3) of the MACC Act 2009 (on powers to investigate).”

No updates

However, the statement noted that MACC would not be disclosing any of the developments or outcome of investigations regarding the case.

“Because under Section 29(4) of the MACC Act, it states that all complaints need to be kept a secret until a person is charged in court,” it said.

(Under Section 29(4) of the MACC Act, disclosure can be made with consent from a public prosecutor or a MACC officer ranked commissioner and above)

“MACC wants to stress that this agency is always serious and takes proactive action on all information involving corruption.

Every corruption case is investigated without fear and favour, including this case,” said MACC.

When contacted, MACC investigations division director Mustafar Ali confirmed that the commission was looking into the case.

Oleh Teoh El Sen (FMT)