Monday, December 14, 2009
Why are you dragging your feet, MACC?
MACC STUMPED AND DOES NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO
Raja Petra Kamarudin
On 3 December 2009, Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat Youth Leader, lodged a report at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya asking them to investigate private investigator P. Balasubramaniam’s latest revelation implicating Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s family in covering up the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu. In response to this report, the MACC asked Shamsul to help locate Bala and to make him available for questioning.
On 4 December 2009, Bala’s lawyer, Americk Sidhu, sent Abdul Rahman Bachok, the investigating officer from the MACC, an e-mail informing him that he is prepared to assist the MACC in securing Bala's attendance at any interview the MACC would like to have with him, but under certain conditions.
On 8 December 2009, lawyer Americk received a phone call from Abdul Rahman Bachok on his mobile phone enquiring whether it was really him who sent that e-mail on 4 December 2009. Americk confirmed that he did and reiterated the contents of the e-mail and suggested that Abdul Rahman respond to it immediately.
However, there was no response from Abdul Rahman, so on 10 December 2009 Americk sent him another email confirming their telephone conversation of 8 December 2009 plus reiterating what he had said in his first e-mail and, again, requested an immediate response.
Until today there is still no response from Abdul Rahman or the MACC and it appears like they are stumped and do not know what to do. To respond would mean that the MACC would have to meet Bala and take his statement, which is clearly something they would not like to do.
The MACC was hoping that Shamsul would not be able to contact Bala and this would mean they could conveniently close the file and declare that they can’t proceed any further since Bala can’t be contacted. But now, since Bala’s lawyer Americk has already communicated with them and has offered to arrange a meeting so that they can take Bala’s statement, they are not able to close the file and stamp it NFA (no further action).
But what do they do? They can’t close the file on the excuse that Bala can’t be contacted since his lawyer has already got in touch with the MACC. Yet they do not dare meet Bala to take his statement as this will not augur well for the Prime Minister. So now they are running around like headless chickens and are praying hard that the matter will die a natural death and Malaysians will soon enough forget about the whole matter.
But the matter will not go away. The MACC has no choice but to respond to Americk’s e-mails. It is just that they are still deciding on how to respond without hurting the future of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t - either way the MACC is damned. And this would mean the damnation of their boss the Prime Minister as well.
Ooo, I just love the way this is turning out.
Appendix
E-MAIL DATED 4 DECEMBER 2009
Dear En. Abdul Rahman,
Re: Report lodged by Shamsul Iskandar Mohd. Akin in relation to the recent disclosure by Balasubramaniam
With reference to the above matter, I wish to inform you that I am counsel representing Mr. Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal. I have been made to understand that you are desirous of interviewing Mr. Balasubramaniam in connection with the report lodged with your commission by En. Shamsul Iskandar Mohd. Akin on the 3rd December 2009.
In this respect I have been instructed to inform you that Mr. Balasubramaniam is prepared to assist you in your investigations and is further prepared to be interviewed by your goodself, with conditions as follows:
1. That the interview be conducted in either Singapore or London.
2. That the time and date of the interview be mutually agreed upon to suit all parties involved.
3. That all necessary air fares be borne by the MACC including those of counsel involved.
4. That all hotel expenses, subsistence, transportation and meals in respect of my client, myself and other counsel necessarily present, be borne by the MACC.
5. That any statement recorded from my client be in the English language and a copy thereof be given to my client.
6. That audio visual recordings of this interview be made by ourselves.
We regret any inconvenience this may cause you but we are sure you are appreciative of the fact that our client is understandably concerned about his safety and welfare if this interview were to be conducted in Malaysia and will not entertain any assurances given by your goodselves or any other party in consideration of doing so.
Please could you respond to me at this email address to enable me to contact my client for instructions in respect of any proposals you may have. Thank you.
Yours sincerely,
Americk Sidhu
E-MAIL DATED 10 DECEMBER 2009
Dear En. Abdul Rahman,
Further to my email of the 4 December 2009, and to the subsequent telephone conversation between us on the 8 December 2009, I would be most obliged to receive a response to my offer of assistance in arranging an interview with my client Mr. P. Balasubramaniam.
As you obviously have my mobile number, please feel free to contact me at any time to make the necessary arrangements.
Yours sincerely,
Americk Sidhu