Rafizi says MACC yet to call him over RM1.1b govt deal with overseas firm

Former economy minister Rafizi Ramli said the MACC has yet to call him to provide a statement in the investigation into the government’s RM1.1 billion deal with British semiconductor giant Arm Holdings PLC.

Although the probe into the Silicon Vision collaboration has been ongoing for more than a month, Rafizi said MACC has not communicated with him on the matter through any means.

“I am also waiting for when it (MACC) wants to call me, when it wants to take my statement. Until now, there has been no feedback or order from the MACC.

“My view is that, based on the investigation so far, it is indeed difficult to show any misappropriation.

“Because from the start, the MACC said that this is not about money," the Pandan MP said after launching the Ayuh Malaysia Gadget Loan Programme in Subang, Selangor today.

According to Rafizi, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki explained in his earlier statement that the issue pertained to a breach of regulations.

"So if it relates to a breach of regulations, before MACC can call me, it must first find evidence of the breach.

“This means as long as MACC does not call me, it does not have a solid case to call me. If I am accused of misleading the cabinet or negligence, MACC must have that evidence," Rafizi asserted.

The former PKR deputy president is accused of expediting the deal with Arm Holdings during his tenure as minister, following allegations from several NGOs that the agreement was hastily arranged and biased, and could have financial implications for the government.

Rafizi has described the investigation against him as intimidation, noting that it coincided with his recent demand for Azam to be suspended.

The call, also voiced by several other quarters, came after Azam was implicated in a shareholding scandal, as well as allegations that MACC officers had colluded with private individuals to strong-arm business rivals and stage corporate takeovers, with Azam's knowledge and support.

Mere diversion

Commenting further, Rafizi claimed that the investigation was a diversion from other issues involving Azam.

He explained that if there is a solid case against him, he would have been remanded and charged long ago, based on the MACC’s pattern of action in previous cases.

“However, this case has been over a month, and I have still not been called to give even a single word of statement,” he said.

On the possibility of other individuals being called to assist in the investigation, Rafizi said the matter depends entirely on the graft busters.

However, he noted that several senior government leaders were also involved in the Silicon Vision programme, including Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Finance Minister Amir Hamzah Azizan.

Furthermore, he stressed that large-scale government programmes usually involve many officers, including those in the Prime Minister's Office, who attend various related meetings.

Last month, Rafizi expressed his determination to sue the government if the MACC's probe does not result in court charges.

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