Anti-corruption and anti-graft: Is Anwar a ‘snake oil salesman’?

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Anti-corruption and anti-graft: Is Anwar a ‘snake oil salesman’?

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10, 2024: The Anwar Ibrahim-led so-called Madani Unity Government (UG) has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to its zero tolerance on corruption and graft.

But is Anwar a “snake oil salesman” on anti-corruption and anti-graft?

What is Malaysia’s 10^th Prime Minister (PMX)’s real stand on the disgraced and shameless former prime minister, Najib “1MDB” Razak, who is currently serving his jail sentence in Kajang Prison?

Why is Anwar’s stand on this unclear or confusing with a man who stole multi-millions, if not billions, of Ringgit from the rakyat dan negara (people and country)?

Najib is currently facing 25 charges of abuse of power and money laundering involving more than RM2.27 billion.

No News Is Bad News reproduces below news reports on Anwar and his stand on corruption or graft:

Anwar to let Agong deliberate on Najib’s house arrest addendum

Lynelle Tham

-10 Dec 2024, 01:02 PM

The prime minister says he previously suggested that the king review the matter since the issue continues to be raised in the public sphere.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim (left) said he briefly discussed Najib Razak’s addendum issue with Sultan Ibrahim during a meeting in Johor Bahru yesterday. (Sultan Ibrahim Facebook pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he will leave the matter concerning the purported addendum allowing Najib Razak to serve the remainder of his jail term under house arrest for the current Yang di-Pertuan Agong to deliberate on.

Anwar said he had briefly discussed the issue with Sultan Ibrahim during their meeting in Johor Bahru yesterday.

“His Majesty wanted to know the latest developments,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“So, we leave it to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to bring the matter to the (Federal Territories) Pardons Board meeting for thorough consideration.”

Anwar said he had previously suggested that the king review the matter since the issue continued to be raised in the public sphere.

The prime minister was responding to Sheikh Mohmed Puzi Sheikh Ali (BN-Pekan), who inquired whether Anwar had plans to meet with the Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is said to have issued the addendum, to resolve the matter.

Earlier when responding to Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu), Anwar said he was not in a position to answer whether the royal addendum exists as parliamentary rules prohibit all discussions on ongoing court cases on grounds that they are sub judice (under judicial consideration).

However, he assured the House that he would provide a full answer once legal proceedings over the matter are concluded.

The Court of Appeal will on Jan 6 hear Najib’s application for leave to adduce fresh evidence in his appeal.

Najib is seeking leave to commence proceedings for a judicial review over the purported supplementary order. On Thursday, the former prime minister’s lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, said Najib’s son, Nizar, had recently obtained new evidence to prove the existence of the addendum.

The High Court in Kuala Lumpur had on July 3 dismissed Najib’s application for leave to commence judicial review proceedings over the purported addendum order.

It ruled that the former prime minister had failed to show an arguable case warranting a full hearing of his proposed judicial review application.

On Feb 2, the Federal Territories Pardons Board (FTPB) announced that Najib’s prison sentence in his SRC International case had been halved from 12 years to six, and his fine reduced from RM210 million to RM50 million.

Najib is currently serving his jail sentence at Kajang prison.

In his leave application filed in the High Court on April 1, Najib claimed that Sultan Abdullah had, during an FTPB meeting on Jan 29, issued a supplementary decree allowing him to serve the remainder of his reduced jail term under house arrest.

He said the board had omitted to announce the terms of the supplementary decree and that the government was in contempt for not complying with it.

Najib wants the court to compel the government to execute the supplementary decree, if it exists, by placing him under house arrest.

Anwar: I will not protect anyone involved in corruption

By Sariha Mohd Ali - November 12, 2024 @ 10:10pm

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reaffirmed his zero-tolerance stance on corruption, stating that he will not protect anyone involved in such activities. - BERNAMA pic

CAIRO: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today reaffirmed his zero-tolerance stance on corruption, stating that he will not protect anyone involved in such activities.

The Prime Minister said this also applies to those involved in corruption who try to evade arrest by becoming whistleblowers to expose these activities.

As such, Anwar said, he is leaving it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to conduct investigations into all corruption cases, including the scandal involving eight state assemblymen who requested money in exchange for supporting project approvals.

"Do not use your position as the prime minister to provide protection to anyone (involved in corruption).

"I will never do that... I will not give them (those involved in corruption) such assurance.

"The unity government's policy is clear that we only provide protection to those who are not involved in corruption," he told Malaysian media at the end of his four-day long official visit to Egypt.

"So, if there is vague information, including whether the whistleblower is also involved in corruption, it needs to be carefully examined and investigated, rather than immediately granting protection to them," he added.

MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki recently confirmed a lawyer who represented a client, who claims to possess an audio recording of a state assembly member allegedly discussing bribery worth hundreds of thousands of ringgit, had met with graft busters at its headquarters on Oct 30 where they discussed about the purported evidence.

Azam had said that the officers were played a 17-second-long audio recording in which several people were heard having a conversation about money.

It was also reported that the whistleblower had sent a letter to the prime minister to seek his protection before lodging a report with the MACC.

In response, Anwar said, he did not receive any letters from any individuals seeking his assistance to grant them protection since he is away in Egypt.

He said that even if the letter is sent, it will be handed over to the MACC for further investigation.

"If I receive a letter (requesting protection), I will hand it over directly to the MACC... take the letter and examine it thoroughly for the next action," he said.