PKR president Anwar Ibrahim made the call after a meeting with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Azam Baki and other senior officers.

In a press conference after the meeting, Anwar said he had asked Azam why the cases against the MPs were dropped, although they had been part of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government.

“The chief commissioner explained that they were not involved in letting anyone go. They said it was up to the discretion of the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), or the attorney-general at the time.

“He said that as far as it can, the MACC performs its duties transparently and independently, and then brings it to the AGC. So the attorney-general at the time and the current one must answer,” said Anwar.

He also told the MACC chief that these decisions did not help the anti-graft agency’s image as they made MACC seem to be in cahoots with the government, whether it was Barisan Nasional, PH or Perikatan Nasional (PN).

He said although the MPs were a part of the government at the time, it was inexcusable they were let go when others in the opposition were still charged, adding that the cases were the same.

In 2019, Umno veteran Shahrir Abdul Samad had questioned why former Puteri Umno chief Mas Ermieyati Samsudin was not among the individuals issued with compound notices over 1MDB funds.

He said she was among three Umno leaders reported to have received funds from former prime minister Najib Razak, alongside himself and Ahmad Maslan.

Mas Ermieyati left Umno on July 1 last year before joining PPBM after five months as an independent.

During the meeting, Anwar said he told the MACC officers that a former PH minister had complained to him of a senior minister assuring him protection from action from the authorities over a specific case – provided he quit PKR to support PN.

“Azam and his officers gave their assurance that they would remain transparent and independent, and that they will not close any case if corruption was found,” he said.

He also said Azam gave an assurance that even reports lodged against the prime minister and his Cabinet ministers were being probed although they might not announce it, adding the MACC will not protect any individual or politician.

“He gave a guarantee that they will perform their duties transparently and independently,” said Anwar.

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