SERDANG: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will investigate whether there were any element of corruption regarding the awarding of a RM214.2 million fiber optic contract to a company linked to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said more information needed to be gathered on the matter, and action will be taken accordingly based on this.
"So far I have no information on the matter, but if there is any information and complaint that there was any element of corruption, then this will become a basis for an investigation.
"We will not hesitate to investigate but before that, we more need information first," he told reporters when speaking at the Opening of the Tri-Annual General Meeting of the Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW), here today.
In his statement of defence in his lawsuit against Dr Mahathir, Anwar had cited several decisions made by Dr Mahathir to justify why the RM150 million defamation suit against him by the latter should be thrown out.
Anwar claimed that Telekom Malaysia Bhd (Telekom) issued a letter to request permission to hold direct negotiations with Opcom Sdn Bhd (Opcom) for the supply of fiber optic cables worth RM214.2 million.
The letter was issued to the Finance Ministry on September 15, 2003, when the Prime Minister and Finance Minister at the time was Dr Mahathir, while his third son, Datuk Seri Mukhriz was the Director of Opcom.
In the defense against the suit filed by Dr Mahathir, Anwar had said, Telekom is a government-linked company (GLC) in which the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc) holds a special share which gives MoF Inc the power to overrule the decisions of the board and other shareholders.
He said MoF Inc at that time was under the direction of Dr Mahathir, who was also the Prime Minister and Finance Minister.
On a separate matter, Azam said there were no interference by politicians or the government since the MACC was known as the Anti-Corruption Agency.
He said the late Tan Sri Harun Hashim, who was ACA's first director had told him about how he never faced interference when his officers conducted investigations.
He said he dreamed such independence by the graft-busters would always continue, including under his tenure.
"I met Tan Sri Harun in 1997 and he said graft-busting can only be possible if there was political will.
"In 1967 (when ACA was set up), he told me that politicians never interfered. The government never disturbed them. ( Deputy Prime Minister) Tun Dr Ismail established the ACA at that time and he was an examplary leader for never allowing the government to intefere in the fight against graft.
"So, during my extension of my contract (as MACC chief commissioner), my hope is for (politicians) to (remain out of any probes). This must become a reality."
When commenting on a separate case, Azam said, a suspect in a money laundering case related to illegal mining, died at a hospital and not at a MACC building.
He said the allegations that the man died in the MACC lockup is not accurate.
"It should be explained that he died at the hospital. He was one of our suspects. When he looked sick during the day, we took him to hospital and he died at the hospital. The allegation (alleged death in lockup) needs to be corrected.
"Even before this, I said I would hand it over to the police for investigation," he said.
Regarding the internal investigation that will be carried out by the MACC, Azam explained that the investigation will be carried out by the police first.
