PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) denied claims that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim instructed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his sons and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin.
According to a report by Bloomberg, the PMO also denied instructing MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki not to investigate share purchases by Anwar’s former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador.
“The Prime Minister’s Office affirms that the Prime Minister has never issued directives or interfered in investigations conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. The MACC operates as an independent body, acting on the basis of complaints received," Bloomberg quoted the PMO.
"I didn’t take instructions from anyone regarding my investigations," Azam told The Star when contacted.
“As for Farhash, we do not have any ongoing investigations against him,” he added.
However, the report claimed that Anwar - who became Prime Minister in Nov 2022 - had reasons to target his political opponents who oppressed him for years, particularly former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
It stated that Mahathir had sacked Anwar from his post as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, and expelled him from the party in 1998, before Anwar was arrested and imprisoned for years.
The report suggested that although Anwar had called for independent agencies like MACC to be free of political interference, it appeared that he was seeking revenge.
"The MACC, led by Azam, has opened investigations into at least three of Anwar’s adversaries and their families, including Mahathir, while not yet acting on a complaint by a politician about share purchases by one of the prime minister’s allies," Bloomberg reported.
Citing sources, the report claimed that Anwar and Azam had reached an understanding that Azam would have his term extended as MACC chief commissioner in return for taking action against Anwar’s opponents.
The report also alleged that Azam had informed MACC officials that Anwar himself instructed the agency to investigate Mahathir, his sons, and Daim Zainuddin. Sources added that Azam told agency officials in March not to investigate share purchases by Farhash Wafa Salvador, saying the instruction came from the prime minister.
