Selangor Umno: MACC action against us like a bolt from the blue

KLANG: Selangor Umno has been taken by surprise by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) civil forfeiture action against the party.

Selangor Umno was one of the 41 entities named in the civil forfeiture suit filed by the MACC on Friday (June 21) for allegedly receiving RM2,738,525.08 of 1Malaysia Development Board (1MDB) funds.

Its acting chairman Datuk Mat Nadzari Ahmad Dahlan (pic) said Selangor Umno was in the dark about what could be coming their way.

"For now, we will wait and see. Once we receive something in writing from the MACC, we will plan our course of action," he said.

The state liaison committee's secretary Datuk Johan Aziz said the move by MACC was completely unexpected.

"We will first discuss it at state level before bringing the matter to the party headquarters," said Johan.

Selangor Wanita Umno chief Datuk Rosni Sohar said she had no knowledge of the issue as she only took over the leadership of the wing in January this year.

"I was called up by the MACC and queried about this. I told them that I was new and did not know of any financial transactions," she said.

Selangor Umno Youth chief Rizam Ismail said he was a newbie and had no knowledge of the issues involved.

"Many of us were not there when these transactions allegedly transpired. We have no clue and are merely caught in the crossfire,'' he added.

According to Rizam, he did not see why the action was being done at a time when the nation's economy needed strengthening.

"I don't know why the MACC thinks this is an important move at this point of time," said Rizam, who is also Selangor Opposition chief.

Most of the people currently heading the Selangor Umno liaison committee are fairly new and may not have been around when the alleged fund transfers transpired.

Previous Selangor Umno chiefs Tan Sri Noh Omar and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob were not available for comment.

Noh had assumed the Selangor Umno chairman's position from Datuk Seri Najib Razak in 2014.

After Noh stepped down, Ismail took over the helm before quitting on May 17 this year.