Group urges MACC to probe claims Zaliha turned down RM50m bribe

The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) has urged the MACC to probe claims that former health minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa had turned down an RM50 million bribe to scrap the generational endgame (GEG) law on tobacco and vape.

In a statement today, the corruption watchdog told the MACC to verify the allegations by G Sivamalar, Zaliha’s former aide, and make its findings public to ensure transparency and accountability.

C4 Center further slammed Zaliha (above) and Sivamalar for violating Section 25(3) of the MACC Act 2009, which imposes a duty to report bribes or attempts to bribe to the nearest MACC or police officer.

“It is insufficient to simply ignore a bribe attempt. Sivamalar should have also reported these instances at the time they arose in the spirit of transparency and good governance, especially seeing that she eventually found it acceptable to publicly describe these instances anyway.

“Whilst Zaliha may have assumed she acted sufficiently in rejecting bribe offers as per Sivamalar’s account, the statutory provisions place a clear duty on every person to whom bribes are offered to make an official report,” it added.

‘I witnessed it myself’

On Dec 18, Sivamalar had, in a column for Malaysia Gazette, praised Zaliha’s “silent bravery” in making the right choices despite potential negative consequences.

“She was once offered RM50 million to drop the GEG policy. She refused without hesitation and asked them to leave.

“I was there. I witnessed it myself,” Sivamalar said.

According to CodeBlue, neither Sivamalar nor Zaliha lodged any reports to the MACC.

Sivamalar also contradicted herself in her replies to CodeBlue, saying she could not remember the incident.

Opportunity for govt to act

Commenting further, C4 Center said legal provisions against corruption are part of a greater anti-corruption framework.

“The Madani government must take this as an opportunity to reassert and reaffirm its commitment to taking anti-corruption seriously, especially in the eyes of Malaysians, many of whom have lost confidence in the government to tackle these issues adequately,” it added.

It went on to call on civil servants to report any attempts to bribe them while urging decisive action against those who violate the MACC Act.

According to Section 25(4) of the same Act, failing to lodge an official report against bribes or attempts to bribe is an offence and can be punished with a fine of up to RM10,000, a prison sentence of not more than two years, or both.

C4 Center’s criticism of the Madani government’s ability to act against corruption comes after former Malacca PKR chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin claimed trial in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court to four charges of taking RM176,830 in bribes from businessperson Albert Tei, earlier this month.

Shamsul is accused of taking kickbacks in his capacity as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary at the time, to help Tei’s companies obtain mineral mining licences in Sabah.

A few days later, Anwar, when commenting on his administration’s efforts to combat graft, lamented a trend of “glorifying” those who give bribes.

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