Kuala Lumpur – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the public not to rush to make a judgment and then the investigation ended with the former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
Anwar stressed that authorities should be allowed to conduct professional investigations and that due process courses should be allowed.
“There is no charge on the situation of Ismail Sabri; the investigation process is underway. Let's not judge; we must respect the rule of law,” he told reporters after attending a quick event in Parliament on Wednesday (March 5).
Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof and other Cabinet ministers also attended the meeting.
A meeting between Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Ismail Sabri is expected to be held on Friday (March 7).
On March 3, MACC announced that they would record Ismail Sabri's statement on its asset statement and the case currently under investigation.
Anwar also dismissed his claims of political strategies against certain leaders.
“So, that means, if you have hundreds of millions of dollars in your house, we won't be able to touch it? Just because you're with the opposition?” he said.
“If we find hundreds of millions of dollars in your house, we won't be able to touch it? Are you telling me? Then, you can't run the government, but maybe you can run the Kong's gel (crime group), please don't,” Anwar said.
He added that if there were any corruption cases against the ministers, he would not hinder their investigation.
“The principle is, no matter who that person is. If you ask, why is there no minister? Give us a name and tell us the location of the house that hides money, I won't stop the investigation,” he said.
“Let’s not judge before the detection process is completed, it is carried out transparently and fairly,” Anwar reiterated.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said MACC now considers Ismail Sabri as a suspect, not just a witness.
On Sunday, the MACC revealed that about RM170 million in foreign currency and 16 kilograms of gold were seized from the “safe house” after an investigation of four senior officials served by Ismail Sabri.
The confiscated foreign currencies include Thai baht, Saudi riyal, British pound, South Korean victory, euro, Swiss franc and Chinese renminbi.
