PUTRAJAYA: Graft investigators will meet blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin by next week over his allegation on the littoral combat ship project.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said his officers needed some time to prepare to meet the blogger as it would have to take place overseas.
“We are setting the meeting to take place. The time, date and place are being discussed for us to take a statement from him.
“I believe by next week, my officers can meet Raja Petra,” he added.
Asked why the meeting has to take place overseas, Azam pointed out this was because the blogger could not return to Malaysia.
Raja Petra had alleged that former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had received kickbacks amounting to millions of ringgit connected to the LCS project.
He alleged that Ahmad Zahid received the money in eight staggered payments between 2012 and 2013.
He also claimed to have documents and evidence linking Zahid to the matter.
Raja Petra, who lives in Britain, had made the allegation in a video posted on his website.
On another issue, Azam said MACC has opened investigation papers to look into a letter of pledge purportedly supporting Ahmad Zahid as prime minister.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, who confirmed this, said the agency had received reports on the matter.
“We have received complaints on said letter and the allegations.
“MACC will open investigation papers so the matter can be looked into,” Azam told The Star yesterday.
The MACC chief said the probe would be done under Section 23 of the MACC Act for abuse of power.
Umno leaders have since denied such a pledge to party president Ahmad Zahid and clarified that there were merely letters issued to candidates to pledge allegiance to Barisan Nasional.
To a question, Azam did not discount the possibility of calling certain individuals to have their statements recorded.
“Let my officers decide on who to call. They will do so after looking at documents that have been surrendered to them,” he said.
On Wednesday, a post on social media went viral depicting a pledge said to be made by Barisan Communications director Datuk Seri Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, in which he purportedly promised, among other things, to support Ahmad Zahid, who is Umno president, as prime minister.
The pledge, allegedly signed by Shamsul Anuar, apparently promised to give major Cabinet posts and political appointments to Umno MPs, as well as dropping court charges involving top party leaders if Barisan wins the 15th General Election (GE15).
Yesterday, Shamsul Anuar had slammed the viral pledge as fake.
“This is clearly a malicious attempt by irresponsible parties, and it is clearly a plan to discredit Umno and BN during this GE15 season.
“I request Malaysians who received this fake pledge not to be influenced by it,” he wrote in a Facebook post that included images of the document,” he said.
A police report was lodged by Shamsul Anuar’s political secretary Datuk Azizan Md Zain on the fake letter at the Dang Wangi police headquarters.
Azizan condemned the fake letter saying it was made with malicious intent.
Umno vice-president Khairy Jamaluddin told reporters yesterday that he did not sign any letter of pledge with the Umno letterhead, as had been viralled.
“I signed a pledge that has the four party logos (under Barisan), loyalty to the party. It has the Barisan letterhead, that’s what I signed.
“I did not sign any pledge with the Umno letterhead as was viralled,” he was quoted by Bernama after the Healthcare Assistants Day celebration in Sungai Buloh yesterday.
Khairy, who is Health Minister, reiterated that the candidate for the 10th Prime Minister was Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
On Tuesday, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein denied the claim saying that it was untrue that the party president had the mandate to choose who would be in the Cabinet if the coalition wins GE15.
“The Cabinet is not formed by the party president.
“Most importantly, we have to win. If we don’t win and can’t form the government, how are we supposed to form a Cabinet?”
He said the surat watikah (endorsement letter) signed by Barisan candidates was merely to “show commitment to the party when nominated as candidates.
“It comes with a responsibility and a duty,” he said.
