Mere suspicion is not enough to prompt the authorities to investigate  allegations of wrongdoing surrounding Prime Minister Najib Razak's family wealth, says an MACC advisory panel.

"MACC will probe if there is a case to investigate. In other words, you don't just investigate out of thin air.

"Otherwise, I am afraid it won't lead to anything. If I make an allegation, I go to the MACC, and say so and so […] but what I am telling them is just my suspicion.

"You don't kill a cat merely because of the suspicion that the cat has eaten your fish," Corruption Prevention Advisory Panel (LPPR) member Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim told the press in Putrajaya today.

He was responding to Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching who urged the MACC to look into Najib's family wealth, aside from probing Rosmah Mansor over the diamond ring saga.

"Has MACC initiated a probe on her Hermes Birkin (handbag) and her son’s RM110 million penthouse in New York?

" Lavish spending of Najib's family has even raised eyebrows and questions from New York(-based media)," said Teo, who is also DAP assistant national publicity secretary.

Teo has also made a report to Johor MACC on the same matter.

'No evidence, just perception '

Tunku Abdul Aziz, however, stressed that any report made should be supported with "substantial evidence", otherwise these are just "perceptions".

"Again, these are perceptions. Alright. You (have) made a police report. If you (lodged a report) without giving them the required basic evidence, how do you expect them to proceed?

"Don't make the assumption that he is the PM, so (therefore) he is being treated differently.

"They are also handicapped by the fact that you yourself are not able to provide substantial evidence," said the former DAP-appointed senator.

Najib's family's lavish spending has even caught the eye of international media.

According to a New York Times article ( above ), dated February 9, 2015: “Mr. Najib, who earns an annual salary of about US$100,000 as prime minister, has been battered by news media reports of his wife’s lavish spending.

"A notable episode involved the Birkin bags: A series of photos that went viral on social media in Malaysia showed Ms. Rosmah holding at least nine of the purses. They typically cost between US$9,000 and US$150,000 apiece.”

The NYT story also unearthed the previously secret transactions of Najib’s 38-year-old stepson, Riza Aziz, who bought an apartment in Park Laurel, New York, for US$33.5 million and a house in Beverly Hills worth at least US$17.5 million, in cash.