Why HD videos for Mkini, but poor audio for us, MACC chief asks

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki has questioned the whistleblower for providing Malaysiakini with high-definition videos of the alleged Sabah corruption scandal whereas the commission was furnished with a 17-second “kurang jelas” (not clear) audio clip.

“This is an uncalled-for trick,” he said, according to Bernama.

“Why is there no trust in us, who are part of the enforcement?”

Azam (above) also appeared flustered over calls to investigate the whistleblower’s videos that have been appearing on Malaysiakini.

“To say MACC should start its investigation, what is there to investigate?

“Supposedly, (what is) going viral on social media is that (the recording of the videos) happened in Sabah and so forth…

“I myself don’t know if that is what is meant (by asking MACC to investigate). MACC cannot make any assumption,” he added.

The chief commissioner also said that the MACC does not formally recognise the individuals implicated in the videos.

Azam pointed out that the whistleblower, who has been exposing the videos, has not filed a report with MACC.

“When we don’t have a report, on a professional level, no report has been made. I have urged the individual to come forward because he started this,” he added.

Various quarters have pointed out that MACC could lodge its own report on the matter without having to wait for someone to do so.

Video exposés

For the past week, the whistleblower, who is a businessperson, has been exposing videos of state assemblypersons in Sabah, whom he claimed took bribes from him to support his application for a mining exploration licence.

He has vowed to surrender all the recordings, documents, banking details and screenshots of WhatsApp messages to the MACC if he is granted immunity and protection under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.

Azam also reiterated that the whistleblower’s lawyer had met with his officers on Oct 30 and played the audio recording.

He said the lawyer had requested immunity and protection for his client.

“MACC told him this cannot be done for any individual, not because of this case… immunity cannot be given until the case is forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor to decide.

“Corruption cases are the simplest because they involve a giver and a recipient. Both are in the wrong. However, we look at the degree of the giver’s involvement (in the offence),” he added.

READ MORE: KINIGUIDE | Whistleblower Protection Act 2010: What does it cover?

Azam said protection is given under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 to those who do not commit “improper conduct”.

“More importantly, the individual must present the required information to MACC, only then can we make a decision (on the request for immunity and protection),” he added.

Azam said MACC’s next step with regard to the scandal would be announced soon and its officers are looking at the “merit” of the videos before deciding on whether to launch an investigation.

‘Malicious motives’

Over the past week, Malaysiakini has published four videos from the whistleblower, with three of them featuring assemblypersons, including Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Shahelmey Yahya.

The other video was of former Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) chief executive officer Jontih Enggihon accusing state Chief Minister Hajiji Noor of abusing his powers.

The whistleblower claims to have eight videos in total, which Malaysiakini had sighted.

Hajiji, who has vowed to cooperate with MACC, however, called on the commission to arrest and investigate the whistleblower first.

Claiming that the whistleblower has malicious motives, he also said that the videos are aimed at weakening his government.

His political nemesis, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin, has urged MACC to probe both the giver and the recipients of the alleged bribes.

He also denied having a hand in the scandal.

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