Anwar: No one will be protected in corporate mafia probe

KUALA LUMPUR: The government will not protect anyone implicated in alleged corporate mafia activities.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said a special task force led by the Attorney-General had been formed to coordinate investigations involving all relevant enforcement agencies.

"I have asked the Attorney-General to lead a special task force involving all enforcement agencies, namely the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Securities Commission Malaysia, the Inland Revenue Board and the Anti-Money Laundering Crime Investigation team.

"I have asked for a comprehensive report to be prepared so that the public does not perceive the matter as lacking transparency or believe that certain parties are being protected. The report must be completed within three months.

"This is not merely a report for civil servants but for the government. I have therefore asked for it to be made public.

"If there is evidence, disclose it, regardless of who is involved. For instance, the names mentioned earlier were (Tan Sri) Azam Baki, (Datuk Seri) Farhash Wafa Salvado and Victor Chin," he said during Prime Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Anwar was responding to a supplementary question from Mohd Sany Hamzan (PH-Hulu Langat), who asked whether the government would protect any party involved in alleged corporate mafia activities.

Separately, Anwar dismissed allegations that a minister had received RM9.5 million to resolve issues linked to the alleged activities, describing them as politically motivated and unsupported by evidence.

"The allegation involving RM9.5 million is a political statement unsupported by any evidence. The minister concerned has denied the allegation and taken the matter to court," he said.

He also said corruption was not confined to any particular political party.

"If there is a case involving a PKR member, I will not use my powers to stop it, including the case involving my former political secretary," he said, referring to Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, who is facing trial on corruption charges.

Anwar was responding to a question from Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) on investigations into alleged corporate mafia activities involving businessman Victor Chin, Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvado and former MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki.