your say 'It is very clear that what PM said is not corruption as the promise made was not in his personal capacity but as a leader of the ruling government.'

 

MACC to investigate Najib's RM5 mil remark

Jiminy Qrikert: Will the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) be transparent in its investigations? And if it is proven that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak did attempt to bribe the people of Sibu, what action will MACC recommend to censure their boss? The Malaysiakini video is all over the blogs. What more evidence do they need?

No Lawyer: MACC, don't waste your time. Is what the PM said corruption? Please refer to case law Teoh Teik Huat vs Lim Kean Siew & Anor, Election Petition (Penang) No 1 of 1981 by justice Eusoffe Abdoolcader.

It is very clear that what PM has said is not corruption as the promise made was not in his personal capacity but as a leader of the ruling government.

PM had said that to a crowd comprising voters, supporters, locals and outsiders who were not registered as voters; the PM was not a candidate contesting (in the by-election); the allocation was never meant for individuals, especially voters, but to benefit the public at large; there was no forcing of voters to vote accordingly (voters had choice and did what they have done both in Hulu Selangor and Sibu); and last but not least, the money was never his own money but from the nation's coffer.

These are points that do not fulfill ingredients of proof for a corruption offence. DAP leader Karpal Singh knows better because he was the counsel in the case above.

Hamisu: Najib can't wiggle his way out of this situation. It's on video. He does not speak on behalf of the government even though Umno lawyer Hafarizam Harun contends this was so.

When Najib speaks at a by-election ceramah, it's obvious he puts on his BN hat. Certainly that makes him speaking on behalf of BN, the party - not the government as claimed by the Umno lawyer.

Is Umno implying Najib was to give out development funds only if the BN candidate won? That's a clear abuse of power. It also serves as enticements for the voters using government funds which, ironically, belongs to the rakyat. Najib cannot use the rakyat's fund as carrot for the voters.

All said, I am still sure this is just another wayang (theatrics). There is no way MACC is going to have a conviction even when everything is on video.

A Kamalakumaran: MACC, why tarnish your image further? You would be better off just closing an eye on that as the opposition has won despite the ‘bargain' made by the PM. You are definitely going to say there is no case and the file is closed, which will further irk the public.

Patriot: The video recording serves as solid evidence of outright 'bribery'. MACC, redeem yourself by going all out to put a stop to such blatant abuse of power.

The big man thinks he is above any law of the nation. This is the second time this has happened - the first was in Hulu Selangor. Or is it another eye wash? Will the outcome be ‘inconclusive evidence'?

Perhaps the video was even doctored, they would say...

Luk: The headline ‘MACC to investigate Najib's RM5 mil remark' should be changed to ‘MACC to confirm nothing is wrong with Najib's RM5 mil remark'. For those who are hoping that Najib will be found in the wrong, there is only one word to describe your hope - stupid.

Louis: I hope the investigation is for real. Too many times, the public has been hoodwinked by such sensational headlines only to see it reduced to nothing. If MACC can really bring Najib to court, irrespective of whoever eventually wins the case, our transparency index will soar sky-high and the foreign fund managers will definitely be long on our equities.

But will it happen? According to legal sources, there is overwhelming evidence against Najib. Let us pray that MACC will not come out with the excuse of not having enough evidence.

Cala: The story will go like this: MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed opens a file on ‘you help me, I help you'. He proceeds to record statements from some witnesses. As is routinely done, without further ado, he closes the said file, citing there is no case to it. The boss cannot be wrong in ‘Bolehland'.

Esok Hari: Abu Kassim is a comedian par excellence. It has been quite sometime that Malaysians have been entertained. MACC, or SPRM, means Supaya Pakatan Rakyat Mati. That's their vow and key performance indicator.

RR: Even if MACC investigates and recommends action to be taken, the attorney-general is the ultimate authority to sanction prosecution. At the same forum, Umno legal counsel Hafarizam had earlier quoted a 1980 case law that ruled promising development expenditure during election by a minister is not a violation of the Elections Act.

Lawyer Lim: PKR and DAP has many well-known lawyers. I'm sure by now they have decided whether what PM had said - both in Hulu Selangor and Sibu - are tantamount to corruption, against the Election Offences Act and a worthy issue to debate.

If they have considered it as corruption, surely they would had filed an election petition. They are unable because Karpal had advised them against it based on the experience he himself had in the many cases which he can't prove the elements of corruption.

Karpal, go file a petition in court. If he could do that, the whole nation should support DAP and hand the government to DAP, not PKR or PAS.

DOC: Now that MACC has an opened a case on Najib, let see how fast the commission can close the case with Najib's innocence intact. At least, you can try to sell to the rakyat that MACC is very efficient in the handling of its cases.

Tan Kian Khim: You know what the MACC chief actually meant by 'opening a file' on Najib? He went to a stationery store, bought an RM4.99 manila file folder, scrawled 'Boss' on the cover, scrawled 'I help you, you help me' on the inside and then scrawled 'Case closed' on the back cover.

There you go - file opened, investigation done, case closed.

 

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only Malaysiakini subscribers can post comments. Over the past six months, Malaysiakinians have posted 50,000 comments. Be part of the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now .