MACC: More entities involved in civil forfeiture move

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has indicated that there are more entities involved in its civil forfeiture move to recover monies allegedly from 1Malay­sia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Azam Baki said more entities would be called over the matter, though he declined to elaborate.

“I will give an update on that later,” he told reporters at the Kuala Lumpur Courts Complex here yesterday.

Azam was asked to comment on a statement by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng on Tuesday in which he said he believed there were more entities – other than the 41 individuals and entities named in the MACC’s forfeiture claims list last week – which had received monies from 1MDB.

Lim said several companies and various associations, including press clubs, were involved in taking 1MDB monies.

To this, Azam said the commission would call any party that received the money.

“If we find any basis or merit for us to call them, we will do so. Not just the press clubs,” said Azam, who had earlier attended the proceedings against Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who was slapped with seven more graft charges involving S$4.2mil (12.8mil).

Azam said there had been companies that offered to return the 1MDB-related monies through their lawyers after the MACC filed the forfeiture suit.

“I can’t say anything more for now,” he said.

On June 19, the MACC filed the civil forfeiture against the 41 recipients and entities to recover RM270mil related to 1MDB.

The monies disbursed to these recipients all came from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal Ambank account.

In George Town, Penang Press Club president Wong Soon Eng said they received a RM50,000 contribution from an organisation called 1Mal­aysia Penang Welfare Club at an event in 2013 along with other associations during the general election season.

“We did plan to return the money earlier on. We are holding an emergency meeting tomorrow to discuss the best channel to send the money back,” said Wong.

The 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club was registered on June 29, 2012, and dissolved on Feb 27, 2014.

In 2013, the club held many events and donated millions of ringgit to many charities and social bodies. It also held many public dinners serving Penang hawker food and even beer for everyone.

The club also organised charity concerts with 22 well-known Hong Kong, American, Bollywood and Malaysian singers performing.

In 2015, when Lim Guan Eng was Penang chief minister, he raised the alarm and pointed out that fugitive businessman Jho Low was actively involved in the club.

Low made several public appearances in Penang under the banner of the club and even gave out cheques himself.