PUTRAJAYA: Authorities will be calling four individuals, including PAS members, as they begin their probe into claims that the party had received RM90mil of the 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB) funds.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said the four had already been contacted by his officers for their statements to be recorded.
“Investigation has started,” he said when contacted on Thursday (Feb 7).
The MACC launched a probe after a police report making the allegation was lodged by an individual at the Kajang district police station on Tuesday (Feb 5).
The probe is being conducted in accordance with the MACC Act 2009 and the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang last week had opted for an out-of-court settlement with Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown, whom he had sued for libel over an article she published on Aug 6, 2016, alleging that the party received RM90mil in bribes from Umno.
She filed a counterclaim in October 2017 but on Feb 1 this year, the case was settled out of court with PAS citing cost of legal fees as one reason why it opted for the settlement.
An article carried by the Sarawak Report news portal in 2016 claimed that Umno had allegedly paid a total of RM90mil to PAS leaders to secure their support, and that the money could have come from 1MDB funds.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak denied that he gave RM90mil to Abdul Hadi or PAS, as alleged by the Sarawak Report.
He said that the Pakatan Harapan administration had thoroughly investigated Umno’s bank accounts since the 14th General Election last year, pointing out that the Pakatan government would have frozen either Abdul Hadi’s or PAS’ bank accounts if any payments had been made by him or Umno.
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