The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) operations review panel is satisfied with the commission’s investigation that cleared attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail of a corruption allegation related to his haj pilgrimage.

hadenan abdul jalil 310511 At a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today, panel chairperson Hadenan Abdul Jalil ( right ) said the investigation found no proof of Abdul Gani’s haj pilgrimage having been sponsored by others.

“The panel is satisfied that the investigation did not indicate any criminal offence,” Hadenan said.

He added that the investigation showed Gani had paid for the haj trip from his own account and there was no proof to show that the money came from other or illicit sources.

The external panel, consisting of seven independent individuals, was tasked to review all closed investigation papers by MACC to ensure that proper procedures were followed and exhausted before the files were closed.

azlan Gani had come under fire in January this year after allegations surfaced on the Internet, alleging that he had links with former Malaysia Airlines chairperson Tajuddin Ramli, who was being investigated by the MACC.

According Raja Petra Kamaruddin's website Malaysia Today , Gani went on a sponsored haj trip together with Tajudin’s associate Shahidan Shafie.

In return, it was alleged that the AG decided not to press charges against Tajuddin over the national carrier's losses, which ran into billions of ringgit.

After much public pressure, Gani initiated a dialogue with MACC’s top brass, committee and panel members on Jan 4.

However the explanation failed to convince another external panel of MACC - the consultation and corruption prevention panel - which wanted the investigation to continue.

NONE One of the panel members, Robert Phang ( left ), had publicly demanded that Gani clear the air over the matter. However, both Gani and Shahidan have remained mum.

Subsequently. Phang was also investigated by the MACC for alleged corrupt practices in Sabah.

He then decided to resign from the panel, one month before his tenure expired, to preserve his integrity and that of the MACC.

Today the operations review panel revealed that MACC had failed to find enough evidence to charge Phang.

“The panel had reviewed the case against Phang, who was alleged to have bribed a ministry’s chief secretary, and is satisfied that the investigation could not find enough testimony to press any charge against any quarter,” Hadenan said.