Responding to PKR's urging for an investigation into the family of Rosmah Mansor, the prime minister's wife, for living beyond their means, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) says it should be given the power to investigate such cases.

"The MACC welcomes the view that it probes cases of people living beyond their means.

"The fact is, investigating possession of property beyond one's means is not entirely part of MACC's (current) function, but MACC welcomes it if it is included in the list amendments to the MACC Act 2009 that will be tabled in Parliament next year," the commission said in a statement last night.

The statement comes a day after PKR vice-president Tian Chua urged a probe into a report that Rosmah's son Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz purchased a RM110 million penthouse in New York.

MACC said it had, before this, already requested that it be given such powers.

"Furthermore, the same was proposed by the MACC oversight panel, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (LPPR) and the Special Committee on Corruption (JKMR), which comprise MPs from BN, DAP, PKR and PAS," it sad.

It said JKMR's report released earlier this month had specifically said that Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009 had to be amended to require individuals to declare their wealth and property without the need for an investigation paper to be opened first.

MACC also quoted JKMR as saying that with the absence of this power, the public views it as a constraint on the government and MACC to combat corruption effectively as there are public servants as well who possess wealth not consistent with their incomes.

Riza is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s step-son, who is now a producer bankrolling Hollywood films.

The recently released US$100 million (RM329 million) Hollywood film ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ was financed by Red Granite Pictures, a company co-founded by Riza.