Guan Eng: Why no MACC, Bank Negara probe into Pandora Papers?
Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng has questioned the absence of a MACC probe into Malaysians named in the Pandora Papers exposé.
He claimed that despite public pressure from opposition MPs, the MACC has stubbornly refused to launch an investigation.
“This has raised public scepticism and doubts about MACC’s...
Former finance minister Lim Guan Eng has questioned the absence of a MACC probe into Malaysians named in the Pandora Papers exposé.
He claimed that despite public pressure from opposition MPs, the MACC has stubbornly refused to launch an investigation.
“This has raised public scepticism and doubts about MACC’s credibility and also justified suspicion that MACC will turn a blind eye when active politicians supporting the government are involved,” he said in a statement today.
Pointing to Malaysia’s dismal ranking in a Global Financial Integrity’s country index for illicit financial outflows, the opposition MP for Bagan also asked why the central bank was not investigating the matter.
“Due to the lack of action by the MACC against money laundering by pro-government politicians, Bank Negara was seen as the only institution left that could act against the illicit financial outflows [...]
“Unfortunately Bank Negara appears to be following the MACC and is maintaining an unholy silence on this financial scandal,” he remarked.
The Pandora Papers refer to a trove of documents leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, of which Malaysiakini is a partner.
The data dump was from firms that helped clients set up offshore trusts and entities in tax havens.
Malaysians named in the leak include Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, deputy finance minister Yamani Hafez Musa, Bagan Datuk MP and Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Selayang MP William Leong and former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.
All individuals said their dealings with offshore entities, including owning or sitting on the boards of such firms, were legitimate and due taxes had been paid for any assets and earnings related to the offshore companies.
Elaborating, Lim urged those found guilty of wrongdoing to be penalised in the national interest.
“Malaysia can do well to restore public confidence and our position in the rule of law index by acting and punishing those involved
“As well as recommend stringent measures to prevent illicit financial flows out of Malaysia, and how to improve transparency, accountability and good governance,” said the DAP secretary-general.
Parliamentary probe needed
Meanwhile, Lim’s father and fellow DAP MP Lim Kit Siang called for a parliamentary probe into the Pandora Papers exposé.
In a statement today, he called upon de facto Law Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to set up a new parliamentary select committee (PSC).
“The PSC should investigate how deeply secretive finance has infiltrated Malaysian politics – and offer recommendations (on) what the government should do to end offshore financial abuses.
“It should be given six months to complete its work.
“Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Wan Junaidi should undertake the initiative to move a motion for the setting up of such a PSC on the Pandora Papers,” he said.
Kit Siang’s call came after Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government was “open” to authorities taking action against those implicated in the Pandora Papers provided there was evidence of wrongdoing.
The prime minister also promised that Putrajaya would not interfere in such probes.
Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has been repeatedly thwarted in his attempts to have these revelations debated in the Dewan Rakyat.
Speaker Azhar Azizan Harun rejected his motion, saying the matter was not urgent enough for a debate but proposed it be brought before a PSC or Royal Commission of Inquiry instead.
Today, Kit Siang used Azhar’s proposal as one of his four reasons to back up the call for a PSC.
The Iskandar Puteri lawmaker reiterated that the Dewan Rakyat standing orders ought to be amended to allow PSCs to conduct public hearings.
The house is presently in recess and will reconvene on Oct 25.
