Pandora Papers: MACC denies claims of selective prosecution in probe By Raveena Nagotra

Malaysiakini : MACC has denied allegations of selective prosecution in its investigation into the Pandora Papers.

Its chief commissioner Azam Baki said this in response to political economist Edmund Terence Gomez’s claims that MACC has not called up leaders from the government bloc despite being named in the leaked documents.

“For the Pandora Papers, MACC focuses on politically exposed persons who had the power and position during that time of alleged wrongdoing, and are suspected to have abused their power.

“The MACC is free to investigate as long as there is reason to believe that they have the position and power and are suspected of misappropriation and abuse of power. It does not matter who.

“The MACC does not practise selective prosecution as we are free to investigate without any interference or influence from others,” he told Malaysiakini.

Azam (above) added that the commission is unable to open investigations whenever it likes as it must be based on facts and evidence in accordance with standard operating procedures and the laws provided.

Political economist Edmund Terence Gomez

On March 25, Gomez questioned why the MACC is not investigating Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, and Selayang MP William Leong in connection with the Pandora Papers.

The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) chairperson claimed that only former finance minister Daim Zainuddin had been summoned.

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