Mahathir’s sons yet to submit asset declarations

KUCHING: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has not received asset declarations from two sons of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said Tan Sri Mohkzani Mahathir and Mirzan Mahathir were given 30 days to do so from the date the notices were issued. However, he said no deadline was set for the investigations to be completed.

“If they fail to declare their assets, they can be charged for that, but our main investigation will take time. There is no deadline for that,” he told reporters after a media dialogue here yesterday. He added that both men had cooperated with MACC so far.

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Mirzan was handed the notice to declare his assets on Jan 17, and Mokhzani on Jan 26. It was previously reported that the investigation into Mirzan was carried out in relation to information contained in the Panama Papers.MACC was reportedly looking into Mirzan’s business activities related to sales and purchases of government-linked companies.

It was also reported that the probe on Mokhzani was not related to the investigation on Mirzan, but also involved a government-linked company.

Azam said the declaration of assets was part of both investigations.

“It will take time before any charges are made as we have to complete our investigation first,” he said.

On Tun Daim Zainuddin, Azam said MACC’s investigation was ongoing although the former finance minister had been charged for failing to declare his assets. He said the probe would take time as the allegations being looked into happened a long time ago.“We will try our best to get evidence. For cases which happened a long time ago, the challenge is getting documentation and witnesses,” he said.

Daim was charged with failing to declare his assets to MACC in the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court on Jan 29, where he pleaded not guilty.