Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In George Town, Penang On 13.1.2018.
I am surprised that MACC appears “comfortable” with extensive press reports in the BN mass media, of MACC investigations into the tunnel and 3 main highways project, which is supposed to be confidential, given statutory protection to prevent investigations from being prejudiced and those leaking information of investigations can be severely punished. Despite the repeated failures of the BN media such as The Star, Berita Harian and Utusan Malaysia, to show proof of their false allegations, they continue to print reports of MACC investigations quoting MACC sources.
In the past, MACC has acted promptly against those who leaked information on social media or to the press. However their attitude now is surprisingly different. To avoid any perceptions of double-standards, can the MACC take action against these “sources” leaking confidential information of MACC investigations to the BN-media on the tunnel and 3 main highway project that was conducted by open competitive tender?
The tunnel and 3 main highways project was awarded through an open competitive tender by the Penang State Tender Board chaired by the Penang State Secretary. If infrastructure projects awarded by open competitive tender can be investigated MACC, why is there no similar MACC investigation with massive publicity and 4 days of front-page news in The Star, for other projects awarded by BN Federal government conducted without open competitive tenders?
Even if these disclosures by the BN media is false, such as The Star falsely reporting that MACC is investigating the pre-sale of RM 3 billion of land rights by the Penang state government and failing to show proof to back it up, MACC’s failure to act against such reports would only lend suspicions as to whether this investigation, is connected to the coming general elections. Especially when investigations were first conducted by MACC since 2016, where all documents were taken with full cooperation from the Penang state government.
MACC must act against these false reports of investigations and disclosures of details in the BN media to preserve the integrity and credibility of their investigations, as well as to avoid any unfortunate and unwanted perception that this is purely a political witch-hunt to tarnish the image of Penang state government leaders. MACC must be an independent body free from any political interference and directive to be able to carry out its job to rid the nation of the scourge of corruption including 1MDB and Felda corruption scandals.
LIM GUAN ENG
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槟城州首席部长林冠英于2018年1月13日在槟城乔治市发表的文告
针对理应保密的公开招标海底隧道及三条大道调查工作，大马反贪委员会到底能不能对付泄露消息予国阵媒体的所谓“消息来源”？
对于国阵媒体连续报导反贪委员会海底隧道及三条大道的调查内情，反贪会却能“老神在在”的没事儿一样，我感到非常惊讶。
调查本来就理应保密及获得法定保护以免调查工作出现偏驳，因此泄露调查工作的泄露者理应被严惩。但如今国阵媒体《星报》、《每日新闻》及《前锋报》三番四次报道反贪会调查工作及引述反贪会的消息来源，却一直无法对这种种虚假的指控拿出任何证据。
过去，反贪会一遇有人在社交媒体或报章泄露消息就会马上采取行动。如今他们的态度却改变得让人惊讶。为了避免双重标准之嫌，针对理应保密的公开招标海底隧道及三条大道调查工作，大马反贪委员会到底能不能对付泄露消息予国阵媒体的所谓“消息来源”？
海底隧道及三条大道是由槟城州秘书主掌的槟州招标委员会透过公开招标程序发标出去。若然连公开招标的基础建设项目也会被反贪会调查，那为何不曾见到反贪会调查国阵联邦政府种种没有透过公开招标的项目与计划，并且获得像《星报》连续4天封面报道大肆宣传的“特别待遇”？
国阵媒体如今即使作出虚假指控，如《星报》本身无法对“反贪会调查槟州政府预售30亿令吉土地权”的虚假报道提出证据证明其正确，却仍然不会受到反贪会的对付，让人怀疑反贪会的这项调查是否与大选来临有关联。特别是反贪会早在2016年就开始进行调查，并获得槟州政府全力配合取得所有相关文件。
反贪会必须对这些关于调查及揭露细节的虚假报道采取行动，以捍卫调查的公平公正，同时也避免让人有为了污蔑槟州政府领袖而进行政治“猎巫”行动之嫌。反贪会必须是个独立的执法机构，不应受任何政治干预与政治指示，唯此才能公正执法为国家扫除如1MDB及Felda联土局弊案的贪污之害。
林冠英