PUTRAJAYA – There are no plans to arrest former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yet as investigations are ongoing, said Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
“Not yet… no plans to arrest as investigations are still going on,” he said briefly after the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Strategies 2024-2028 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
He was responding to questions on the probe into Dr Mahathir’s declaration of assets.
Azam previously said, as a result of the investigation, the graft busters had issued two of Dr Mahathir’s sons notices to declare their assets under Section 36 of the MACC Act 2009.
Mirzan Mahathir’s notice was served on January 18 and Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir’s on January 26.
The notices to declare their assets were issued under Section 36(1)(b) of the MACC Act 2009.
In Mirzan’s case, the agency is investigating his business activities linked to the sale and acquisition of government-linked companies, while probing into information in the Panama Papers published by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists in 2016.
Mokhzani’s name did not appear in the Panama Papers.
However, both brothers are being investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Meanwhile, last month, another of Dr Mahathir’s sons, Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, said he believed this father was the real target of the MACC’s probe.
On March 16, Azam confirmed with Scoop that the MACC had given Mirzan and Mokhzani an extension to declare their assets. Mirzan had until April 15, while Mohkzani had until April 25 to declare their assets. – May 7, 2024