ISKANDAR PUTERI: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will only call up Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal for questioning if there is a need to do so, to assist investigations into a property scandal involving Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd.
Its chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad said anyone involved in the Mara Inc's purchase of real estates in Australia will be summoned for questioning and not limited to Shafie, who was the previous rural and regional development minister.
"We will look at whether there is a need for it in our ongoing investigation. If there is a need, we will call whoever and it will not necessarily be YB (Yang Berhormat) Shafie Apdal.
"Whoever that is related to the case can be required to be called upon and give a statement. It is not necessarily limited to Shafie Apdal," said Dzulkifli when asked if MACC would call up the former minister to assist in the investigation.
He said this after attending a Corruption Free Pledge and signing ceremony involving Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and nine executive council members in Kota Iskandar here today.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said yesterday that 24 people have been called in for questioning and seven premises probed as part of the MACC investigation into the Mara Inc's property purchase case in Australia.
The case was highlighted when Australian newspaper ‘The Age’ had alleged that a high-ranking Mara official, a senior official and another person had overspent government funds in buying a block of apartments in Melbourne.
It was reported that the trio had overpaid by A$4.75 million (RM13.8 million) for the apartment block in 2013.
The five-storey apartment block at Dudley International House in Melbourne was bought by Mara for use as a hostel for its students there.