Nearing 100 days in power, Anwar finally gets Hassan's praise
Known for his outspoken manner in reprimanding anyone he feels has done wrong, including his own party president, Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim has changed his tune this time over the Pandora Papers investigation.
The PKR lawmaker said if he was asked why he supports the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim despite the occasional criticism, the probe into the Pandora Papers leak is one of the reasons.
This did not happen under the previous Ismail Sabri Yaakob administration, Hassan said, adding that the previous Dewan Rakyat speaker Azhar Azizan Harun did not give way to parliamentarians to raise the matter in the august House.
“When Anwar became prime minister, only then MACC got the courage to investigate the Pandora Papers issue.
“If this is not considered a reformation or a concept of ‘madani’, then to my friends in Perikatan Nasional (PN), I do not know what else to say,” Hassan (above) said in a statement today.
At the same time, the lawmaker urged the MACC not to be selective with its probes into those implicated in the documents.
He listed out those implicated in the documents, including a former prime minister, former deputy prime minister, former finance ministers, a state governor, former chief ministers, children of a former prime minister, and many others.
Thus, the MACC has a duty to immediately investigate these prominent individuals in Malaysia, he said.
“If you’re going to investigate, then investigate everyone. Do not pick and choose. The people already know all the names of those published in the Pandora Papers at their fingertips.
“Pity all those who were listed. What is said in the Pandora Papers is not necessarily true. The Pandora Papers are still considered hearsay.
“The truth of the content of the Pandora Papers must be proven in court. If it fails (to be proven), that means the publisher of the Pandora Papers has committed libel,” Hassan said in a statement today.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
If they are found to be clean, then that is the end of the matter but if it is true that they accumulated wealth outside the country to evade taxes, then they must be prosecuted in court, he said.
“In a few days, it will be Anwar’s first 100 days as prime minister.
“So, give a garland of flowers and a salute to the Tambun MP in this case of the Pandora Papers. He is walking the talk,” Hassan said.
Early stage
On Feb 13, the MACC recorded statements from a former minister regarding his offshore wealth exposed in the Pandora Papers leak.
It also summoned a former prime minister’s son for questioning the next day.
The investigation is reportedly still at an early stage and more people will likely be questioned in relation to the Pandora Papers soon, according to a source.
While the individuals summoned for questioning were not named, as is the common practice for those not yet charged in court, the former minister is described as a senior official in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration.
The Pandora Papers refer to a leak of financial documents and other records from 14 offshore service providers that set up and manage shell companies and trusts in tax havens around the globe.
The documents were disclosed to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which in turn provided access to its partners, including Malaysiakini.
Among the Malaysian politicians found to have kept their wealth in tax havens include Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, and several others.
They each said in 2021 that their accounts were used for legitimate purposes.
If they are found to be clean, then that is the end of the matter but if it is true that they accumulated wealth outside the country to evade taxes, then they must be prosecuted in court, he said.
“In a few days, it will be Anwar’s first 100 days as prime minister.
“So, give a garland of flowers and a salute to the Tambun MP in this case of the Pandora Papers. He is walking the talk,” Hassan said.
Early stage
On Feb 13, the MACC recorded statements from a former minister regarding his offshore wealth exposed in the Pandora Papers leak.
It also summoned a former prime minister’s son for questioning the next day.
The investigation is reportedly still at an early stage and more people will likely be questioned in relation to the Pandora Papers soon, according to a source.
While the individuals summoned for questioning were not named, as is the common practice for those not yet charged in court, the former minister is described as a senior official in Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration.
The Pandora Papers refer to a leak of financial documents and other records from 14 offshore service providers that set up and manage shell companies and trusts in tax havens around the globe.
The documents were disclosed to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), which in turn provided access to its partners, including Malaysiakini.
Among the Malaysian politicians found to have kept their wealth in tax havens include Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, International Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz, former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, and several others.
They each said in 2021 that their accounts were used for legitimate purposes.
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