'No excuses, MACC can probe Rosmah's son'

PKR has flayed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for claiming that it does not have the power to probe cases of individuals possessing assets beyond their means, calling it an attempt by the graftbuster to abdicate from its duties.

PKR vice-president N Surendran (right) said that under the MACC Act 2009, there are a wide array of powers the MACC can rely on in order to crackdown on cases of those displaying “massive unexplained wealth”.

"Instead of making full use of those laws, the MACC seems fixated on amending an already powerful MACC Act.

"It is a national shame that the MACC pleads powerlessness, although the whole world can see the fabulous extent of the wealth of friends and relatives of BN leaders at all levels," Surendran said in a statement today.

Before this, PKR had called on the MACC to probe the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's stepson Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz (below, left in photo) for allegedly living beyond his means after he reportedly purchased a RM110 million penthouse in New York.

The 36-year-old is the son of prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor from an earlier marriage and is now a producer bankrolling Hollywood films.

'Enough powers'

Surendran today described the MACC Act as a "strong piece of legislation with wide powers", adding that Section 29(3) of the law already allows the commission to open a corruption investigation if it receives information or suspects possible corrupt practice.

Section 35 of the same law, he said, also grants MACC wide powers to look into bank accounts and other documents of persons suspected of corrupt practices.

Surendran said other Commonwealth country also do not have the power MACC is asking for but is able to probe cases of individuals suspected of living beyond their means.

"Neither Singapore or Hong Kong have the kind of provision which Malaysia's MACC insists on having before taking action in cases like Najib's stepson.

"Yet, Singapore and Hong Kong are well-known for their success and firmness in stamping out corruption and for their strong corruption legislation," he said.

He is therefore calling on the anti-graft body to “stop the excuses” and to “commence immediate investigations into the case of Najib's stepson.”