The delayed prosecution of two former aides of a former cabinet minister over the 1Azam scheme by the Attorney-General’s Chambers is a “fine example” of why the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) needs to be given prosecution powers, PKR said today.

The MACC had sounded confident in announcing that the two would be produced to court last week, PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli said, but only to know that the attorney-general has not charged them in court until now.

“This makes it appear as though there is political intervention in this case,” Rafizi ( left ) said at a press conference at the PKR headquarters today.

The MACC in a statement last week said a former political secretary bearing the 'Datuk' title and a director of one of the foundations headed by the Datuk would be charged in the sessions court in Kuala Lumpur with criminal breach of trust involving more than RM1.1 million and another charge of cheating to the value of RM1 million.

Explain delay, attorney-general told

Rafizi also said it would be a major "betrayal" of the people by the BN if it was indeed true that the 1Azam scheme was used to benefit errant officers.

"This is the biggest poverty eradication programme  that the government has embarked on. As of 2011, at least 60,000 families were part of the programme," he said.

"So, if this is true, at least 60,000 families have had their trust betrayed," Rafizi added.

At a separate press conference, PAS information chief Mahfuz Omar also demanded that the Attorney-General’s Chambers reveal why it is yet to charge the the pair in court, while also questioning possible political interference.

"We ask that the attorney-general explains this matter immediately. Ironically, corruption cannot be controlled, but when there is a case that is confirmed, they don't charge," Mahfuz said.

Additional reporting by Abdul Rahim Sabri