Outgoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Zakaria Jaffar says MACC is probing into SRC International Sdn Bhd without naming names. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Ahmad Muslim, October 12, 2015.The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is in the midst of investigating the most powerful person in the country, says outgoing deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Zakaria Jaffar.
He said this person was investigated in relation to Finance Ministry-owned firm SRC International Sdn Bhd, and a sum of money worth RM2.6 billion.
"We are faced with an investigation that involves the most powerful person in the country," he said today in his retirement speech at the MACC Academy in Kuala Lumpur today.
"For as long as I have served in ACA and MACC, it never crossed my mind that the commission would face a challenge this big as what we are seeing today.
"Everyone is in the know that we are carrying out the biggest investigation since 1967. The officers involved need the full support to work in this very difficult field," said Zakaria, who retires today as deputy chief commissioner (management and professionalism).
SRC International was former a subsidiary of state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and was later placed under the finance ministry.
It drew controversy for taking a RM4 billion loan from government pension fund, Retirement Fund Incorporated.
The RM2.6 billion fund was reported by The Wall Street Journal to have been transferred to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal accounts. MACC has already confirmed the funds as a political donation from an unknown Middle Eastern donor.
It is not known what the money has been used for, although Najib said he was holding the funds in trust on behalf of Umno.
In his farewell speech, Zakaria also touched on “attacks” against the agency’s officers over suspicions that MACC had been responsible for leaking information on the probe into 1MDB.
This was after The Wall Street Journal, citing information from government investigators, reported in July that RM2.6 billion had been transferred into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts.
The special operations unit of the MACC was raided and several of its investigators detained for questioning. Two MACC officers were also transferred but reinstated after an outcry.
“Such a thing should never have had happened.”
He urged the agency’s investigators involved in the probe into SRC International and into the RM2.6 billion not to waver.
“I am confident that the officers involved in these cases will continue to work without fear. Investigations will continue even if suspects have absconded.” – October 12, 2015.
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