KUALA LUMPUR: A special task force, to be led by the Attorney General, will coordinate action against alleged corporate crime, with a report due in three months to be made public, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the move was aimed at addressing concerns that enforcement action lacked transparency.
“I want a comprehensive report so that people will not regard this as lacking in transparency or believe that there are parties being protected.
“Let it be completed within three months,” he told the Dewan Rakyat during the Prime Minister’s Question Time.
The task force will also comprise the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Securities Commission, Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and the police’s anti-money laundering investigation team.
The report would be made public, the Prime Minister said.
“This is not a civil service report; it is a government report. Therefore, I want the report to be made public,” he said.
Responding to Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat), who asked whether those allegedly involved in corporate mafia activities were protected, Anwar said claims must be supported by evidence.
“If there is evidence, disclose it, regardless of who is involved,” he said.
The Prime Minister also described a claim that a minister received RM9.5mil to resolve an alleged corporate mafia-related matter as a political allegation, pointing out that the said minister had taken the matter to court.
Anwar said he would not use his authority to halt action against anyone, including members of his own party.
“There have been prosecution cases involving members of PKR, including involving my former political secretary recently. I did not obstruct or use my powers to stop them,” he said.
Anwar also said assets seized and forfeited by enforcement agencies were channelled into the Consolidated Fund and should ultimately benefit the public.
He said recoveries and seizures arising from efforts by Bank Negara, the MACC and other agencies had reached RM37.53bil, of which RM28bil was linked to investigations into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and used to settle the company’s debt.
Separately, the Prime Minister said Bukit Aman’s anti-money laundering investigation team (AMLA) froze RM4.3bil in assets between the end of 2022 and September in action against financial and corporate-related offences.
The team also forfeited RM48mil and imposed RM1.1bil in compounds over the same period.
He listed corporate crime as ranging from the acquisition and control of companies listed on Bursa Malaysia, stock market manipulation and breaches of corporate disclosure requirements, to illegal money lending activities involving intimidation.
Anwar said the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) had also stepped up enforcement since 2023, initiating 239 criminal charges against 50 individuals.
He said cases of abuse of power and breaches of the law in corporate and business activities would continue to be pursued through criminal prosecution or civil action.
