MACC records statement from 84-year-old former minister over Pandora Papers claims

PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators have called in a former minister to explain claims made in the Pandora Papers.

It is learnt that the 84-year-old individual had his statement recorded recently.

Sources with knowledge of the case confirmed the former minister was asked, among others, to explain claims of money flow involving 12 offshore companies owned by him and his family.

“Investigators are looking at many angles but the probe is still in its early stages,” a source told The Star on Tuesday (Feb 14).

The same source also said that no accounts have been frozen - for now.

“If investigators warrant it necessary, they will seek for accounts to be frozen. But for now, they are going through documents in relation to the case,” he said.

Investigators also did not rule out the possibility of the former minister to be called again.

The Pandora Papers are a data leak involving 2.94 terabytes of data which cited the opening of offshore accounts involving former and current government and political leaders around the world, including Malaysia.

Several Malaysian politicians were named in the Papers, which was released in 2021.

Police had also opened investigation papers to look into the allegations.

Then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had said that the government would not interfere with the authorities pursuit on case based on the information in the papers.