Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has hit out at what appear to be attempts to block investigations into RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s personal bank accounts.

 

Two Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers were abruptly transferred to the Prime Minister's Department amid the high-profile probe, prompting Khairy to express concern that this could be a case of intimidation.

 

“I hope these sort of actions can cease immediately and the intimidation against MACC is stopped,” he told journalists in Kuala Lumpur last night.

 

"I see it as strange and very disappointing - as if there is a planned intimidation against MACC to weaken the institution."

 

The transfers followed a series of arrests by police against MACC investigators who were involved in the RM2.6 billion probe. Their homes and offices were also raided.

 

The two MACC officers transferred are special operations division director Bahri Mohamad Zin ( photo ), who headed the investigations, and strategic communication director Rohaizad Yaakob.

 

Bahri had been highly critical of police harassment against MACC investigators and had vowed to find out the "hidden hands" behind the action.

 

Rohaizad had greeted opposition MPs at the MACC headquarters on Thursday morning after they turned up to show support for the embattled graft busters.

 

Protect our institutions

 

Elaborating on the matter, Khairy said he couldn't stand by and watch an institution like MACC being taken apart.

 

"I understand that an officer was transferred for possibly greeting the opposition delegation and was transferred the very next day.

 

"Do not make our institutions collapse simply because of an agenda, I am not willing to allow something like that to happen," he said.

 

Khairy stressed that MACC must be allowed to carry out its duties freely to avoid negative perception from the public.

 

"If these actions continue, the rakyat's trust in our institutions and government will be further eroded.

 

"Let MACC carry out its duties without obstacles. Do not at any instance attack our institutions," he said.

 

Khairy had previously defended the RM2.6 billion deposits into Najib's private bank accounts but had stressed that MACC should be allowed to investigate and call up the prime minister if necessary.