The MACC should set an example by returning the RM5 million allocation given by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to the commission's Yayasan Prihatin, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil said today.

Fahmi noted in a statement that the MACC is currently vetting election candidates for BN, in which Najib is the chairperson and an election candidate.

In addition, he pointed out, that has yet to submit its investigation papers on the former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International, from which RM42 million had been transferred into Najib's bank account.

Fahmi said Bank Negara had also imposed penalties, totalling RM115.8 million, against entities linked to the 1MDB scandal, whereas 1MDB's financial decisions at the time had to be approved by Najib, in accordance with Article 117 of 1MDB's memorandum and articles of association.

"In view of these issues... the RM5 million allocation to MACC's Yayasan Prihatin would invite all kinds of unhealthy speculation from members of the public. Therefore, it would be hard to avoid the possibility that the allocation would be seen as a gift or donation that may be politically motivated.

"Therefore, to avoid unhealthy speculation and perceptions, the MACC should take a clear moral stance and return this RM5 million 'donation' to the government.

"By returning the money, the MACC would become a clear example to Malaysians that not only graft should be rejected, but any gifts or donations that may be seen as graft should also be rejected," Fahmi said.

Klang MP Charles Santiago also disapproved of the donation and advised Dzulkifli to return the money.

“It would be equally unethical for the anti-graft body to accept the allocation as it would be perceived as compromising its investigation and violates the fundamental doctrine of anti-corruption.

“The only thing left to do now is for Dzulkifli to reject the allocation immediately, speed up the investigation against Najib and make public the report in the next two weeks,” Santiago said in a statement.

Fahmi added that the Parliament would be the best forum to announce allocations for the MACC and its Yayasan Prihatin, compared to Najib as the head of the government's executive branch.

He urged MPs to take note of the issue of allocations and welfare in the MACC, and debate it in the next parliamentary session.

Fahmi said the MACC should also be removed from the Prime Minister's Department's purview and made to report directly to Parliament.

Najib announced the RM5 million allocation during MACC's 50th anniversary celebrations yesterday, saying it was to show support for MACC officers who work "day and night" to fight corruption.

Yayasan Prihatin is a foundation set up to look after the welfare of MACC officers.

'New headquarters an ‘international joke’'

Also chiming in was DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who questioned why the MACC had been given a new building as its headquarters, the site of yesterday’s celebrations.

“Najib was very proud yesterday to declare open the world’s biggest anti-corruption complex.

“This is, in fact, something for Malaysians to be ashamed of – Malaysia holding the world record as having the biggest complex for its anti-corruption commission, at a time when Malaysia is (also) regarded worldwide as a ‘global kleptocracy’.

“And (when) the prime minister (is) openly dismissed in the world as ‘kleptocrat’ and ‘Malaysian Official Number 1’!” said Lim in a statement.

He questioned the cost of the new Putrajaya headquarters and called it “an international joke”, especially when compared with how the country’s ranking in the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) had plunged over the years.

In 1995, Malaysia placed 23 out of 41 countries for corruption perception, scoring a 5.28 out of 10 in the CPI. In 2016, the index ranked 176 countries and Malaysia placed 55, scoring 49 over 100 in the CPI, the lowest score in three years.

“MACC should have a modest headquarters but sterling record in fighting corruption, without fear or favour, with corrupt elected or appointed arrested for corruption or abuses of power – regardless of how high a status he corrupt holds in government or public office,” opined Lim.

Lim also criticised Najib’s speech at the event, honing in on how the prime minister had called corruption a “threat to the country, a threat to our civilisation, the society and the country’s future”.

“Najib’s words on corruption are empty and meaningless unless he is prepared to clear and cleanse Malaysia’s reputation of the indignity, infamy and ignominy of 1MDB scandal and a global kleptocracy,” said Lim.