'Croc bag' prompts call to give MACC more bite

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The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act must be amended to provide the anti-graft watchdog with more investigating powers, said DAP lawmaker Teo Nie Ching.

Her call comes in the wake of a widely circulated photograph on social media depicting Rosmah Mansor clutching an expensive handbag.

However, her aide Rizal Mansor denied that it was the same bag sold at an auction for RM820,000.

The Kulai MP said she lodged a report with the MACC Johor headquarters on April 20, urging them to probe the allegations in The New York Times regarding the lavish lifestyle of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's family.

Apart from pricey handbags and jewellery purportedly purchased by Rosmah, the report also zoomed in on the prime minister's stepson Riza Aziz, a junior-level banker at HSBC turned Hollywood movie producer.

The article stated that Riza 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.

"It is obvious that the lavish lifestyle of Najib and his family clearly does not commensurate with his official emoluments," said Teo in a statement.

Possessing luxurious items not an offence

However, Teo ( photo ) said she received a parliamentary reply from Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low on May 28, which stated that possessing luxurious items is not an offence under the MACC Act unless if the items were procured through corruption.

Elaborating on the amendment to the MACC Act, Teo cited Section 10 of Hong Kong's Prevention of Bribery Ordinance (POBO), which stated that any person who, being or having been the chief executive or a prescribed officer,

(a) maintains a standard of living above that which is commensurate with his present or past official emoluments; or

(b)is in control of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his present or past official emoluments, shall, unless he gives a satisfactory explanation to the court as to how he was able to maintain such a standard of living or how such pecuniary resources or property came under his control, be guilty of an offence.

"Not only that, in accordance with Section 12 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance (ICACO), the ICAC commissioner has a statutory duty to investigate pursuable allegations under the POBO.

"It is undeniable that ICAC in Hong Kong is allowed to investigate a wider range of offences, which is something we should learn from," she said.

While Teo agreed that being rich is not a sin, she however pointed out that as an office bearer in government, it is important to be transparent as to the source of the fortune so that people are assured that the politician does not abuse the power and position to accumulate and build wealth.

"If indeed there is nothing unusual in their wealth, Najib and his cabinet should have no difficulties to support the proposed amendment to MACC Act.

"So, would they support this proposal?" she asked.

Previously, the Prime Minister's Office, in reaction to the New York Times report, attributed Najib's wealth to inheritance.

However, his four siblings later issued a joint statement describing their father, the late second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, as a frugal man.



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