PETALING JAYA: A brief recording purportedly of lawmakers of a state discussing an alleged bribery transaction has surfaced.
The 17-second recording came to the attention of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after a lawyer sought whistleblower protection for his client from the graft busters before promising more details of the alleged claims.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has confirmed that a recording was played to his officers by the lawyer but said the context of the conversation and their identities could not be determined through the clip.
He said the recording was played at a meeting that had taken place between his officers and the lawyer on Oct 30.
Asked if his officers could identify those in the audio or which state the assemblymen are from, Azam said: “Certainly not from a 17-second recording.”
“My officers couldn’t make head nor tail of the issue from an audio clip that short, or start an investigation ... it is impossible,” he said when contacted last night.
Earlier yesterday, a news portal reported eight video recordings of assemblymen of a state purportedly discussing hundreds of thousands of ringgit in bribes given to them in exchange for supporting a project have surfaced.
The lawmakers included those holding senior positions in the particular state administration, according to the report.
Azam said during the meeting the lawyer had sought protection for his client and asked for the MACC to guarantee immunity for his client from being investigated.
He said the officers did not agree to such an agreement as it does not align with procedures under the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010.
“In order for us to give immunity, the person will have to come forward and present themselves to the agency and lodge a report.
“On immunity which the lawyer has sought for the client, protection will be revoked if the person is found to be involved in a crime,” he said.
