MACC QUESTIONS MALAYSIAN PM ON RM2.6B FOUND IN HIS ACCOUNT
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Prime Minister has been dogged by controversy
ever since reports emerged in July of investigations into RM2.6b funds believed
to have been transferred into Mr Najib's accounts before the 2013 general
elections.
The Wall Street Journal said investigators had allegedly
identified five separate deposits into his bank accounts - including funds they
had reportedly traced back to SRC International - an energy company formerly
owned by the debt-ridden state investment firm advised by Mr Najib, 1Malaysia
Development Berhad (1MDB).
In August, the MACC said they had determined that the money
had no connection to 1MDB but was a "donation" from the Middle
East. However, Saturday's meeting is the
first time MACC has taken a statement directly from Mr Najib himself. This is
also the first time the MACC has questioned a 
sitting prime minister under the
MACC Act 2009.
In a statement, MACC said their meeting with Mr Najib lasted
2.5 hours and he was cooperative. No further details were provided.
Mr Najib has repeatedly denied allegations of wrongdoing,
saying he has not used any funds for personal gain.
Source: Agency
MALAYSIA IS AMONGST WORLD CHAMPION IN CORRUPTION?
Despite Malaysia's high-profile anti-corruption crusade, half of the
corporate executives surveyed by a global corruption watchdog believe
that competitors have obtained business in the country through bribery.
Transparency International said Malaysia scored worst in the 2012
Bribe Payers Survey.
It asked nearly 3,000 executives from 30 countries whether they had
lost a contract in the past year because competitors paid a bribe, and
in Malaysia, 50% of them said 'yes'.
lost a contract in the past year because competitors paid a bribe, and
in Malaysia, 50% of them said 'yes'.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Japan was ranked as the world's
least-corrupt place to do business, with just 2% of respondents saying
they had lost out due to bribery.
Even Indonesia, with a long-standing reputation for corruption, fared better than more-developed Malaysia.
By comparison, 27% of respondents in China said they thought bribes had cost them business, the report said.
"It shows the attitude of private companies in Malaysia, indicating
that bribery in the public sector could be systemic and in a sense
institutionalized," Paul Low, president of the Malaysian chapter of
Transparency International, said.
source: Hindustan Times
VISITORS GEOFLAGS SINCE AUGUST 26, 2009
