PUTRAJAYA: A non-governmental organisation has lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) following the circulation of videos purportedly depicting corruption.
Urging authorities to investigate the matter, Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia (G57) president Datuk Zulkarnain Mahdar said the “whistleblower and complainant” who made the claim should have approached the MACC from the outset.
He was referring to the whistleblower, reportedly a businessman, and the complainant, allegedly a former CEO of Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd, with the duo claiming to possess evidence implicating assemblymen in a bribery scandal.
He said spreading allegations on social media violates Section 25 of the MACC Act, which requires anyone who is offered, promised or given a bribe to report it.
“Instead of lodging a report with the MACC, the whistleblower took to social media to make the allegations public.
“If a person is aware of a corrupt practice and doesn’t report it, that’s an offence.
“You (the whistleblower and complainant) are aware of corruption, yet you didn’t report it to the MACC.
“That’s why I lodged a report today – to prompt the MACC to address this issue and seek information from the relevant parties,” he said when met at MACC headquarters here yesterday.
According to Zulkarnain, the commission may not be able to act in the absence of a formal report.
“I filed this report since the whistleblower did not. This is a reminder that if you have information on corruption, you must report it to the MACC.
“In my report, I also included several documents to help the MACC investigate both the whistleblower and the complainant,” he said, while expressing confidence that the MACC would provide protection to whistleblowers.
Recently, a news portal reported the existence of eight videos depicting assemblymen allegedly discussing sums ranging between hundreds of thousands to RM4mil with a businessman in exchange for a state project.
The businessman, who remains anonymous, claims to possess these recordings and has sought whistleblower protection from the MACC.
Since the businessman’s public request for protection on Oct 30, social media has been abuzz with at least a dozen alleged secret videos involving state officials.
According to sources familiar with the case, the businessman, believed to have ties to a mining company, is reportedly seeking the return of payments he made to secure a project.
