PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today (Oct 7) said it does not take instructions from anyone, including the prime minister, when conducting investigations into individuals.
Its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said allegations claiming that the anti-graft body acted on government directives to carry out investigations were "unfair".
He said every investigation followed standard operating procedures and was carried out in accordance with the law.
"I would like to reiterate that I do not take instructions from anyone when conducting investigations.
"So it is unfair to accuse us (MACC) of following orders from the prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) to carry out investigations.
"I am simply doing my duty within my authority, in line with the law.
"If a complaint is made to us, we will evaluate the information and take the necessary steps, including conducting an investigation."
Azam said this after the "Soal Rakyat" recording at Sri Pentas here.
Last month, Bloomberg, citing sources, reported that Azam had informed MACC officials that the investigations into former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his sons, as well as former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, were allegedly initiated by Anwar.
Bloomberg claimed that Anwar had allegedly instructed MACC not to investigate his former political secretary, Farhash Wafa Salvador, over the purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a billion-ringgit immigration system.
In response, the Prime Minister's Office refuted both reports, stating that the Anwar had never issued any directive or interfered in investigations conducted by MACC.
MACC also denied allegations that it had received external directives to halt investigations into specific people.
When asked about Anwar's statement on corruption involving certain leaders, Azam said: "From what I observe and based on our monitoring, there have not been many issues on corruption involving the government
"Based on our records, the information and allegations we receive regarding governance issues are not that serious (based on our investigations).
"It is likely that the prime minister was referring to past cases of corruption that are still emerging and have been reported to us."
In a reply to the New Straits Times later, Azam reiterated that he does not take from anyone.
"We open investigations based on the complaints we receive, but whether we proceed depends on whether the case falls under our jurisdiction. We do not investigate complaints that are outside our authority," he said.
Azam said he believed the police have received a report from the wife of former minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, Toh Puan Na'imah Abdul Khalid, based on the Bloomberg report.
"So be it; I trust that Bloomberg will serve as the key witness, and I contend that Na'imah is relying on baseless accusations," he said.