PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has dismissed Aman Palestin’s threat of legal action if the agency does not unfreeze the NGO’s bank accounts in three days.
MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the anti-graft agency would not lift the freeze on the organisation’s accounts, adding that it was ready to take on any legal challenge from the NGO.
According to New Straits Times, he also said he had yet to receive any letter from Aman Palestin over the matter.
“As far as I know, it is all coming up in the media. If they want to sue MACC, we are ready to answer it. We’ll see it through in court.
“MACC is carrying out its duty professionally, without any ill or malicious intentions towards anybody,” Azam was quoted as saying.
Yesterday, Aman Palestin’s lawyer Rafique Rashid Ali said MACC had three days to unfreeze the bank accounts, failing which the matter would be taken to court.
On Thursday, MACC froze 41 bank accounts belonging to Aman Palestin and several other companies – which had a combined total of RM15.8 million – as part of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of RM70 million by the NGO.
Rafique said the press release by MACC was tantamount to “character assassination” of the NGO and its board members, and was impeding local NGOs from providing much-needed assistance to the Palestinian people.
Azam however maintained that there was no “planned conspiracy” to commit character assassination against anyone.
In a later statement, he said the freezing of the bank accounts was lawfully done and a normal measure to take, where necessary, in such graft investigations.
“It’s up to any party to take legal action if they feel that there is a necessity to do so.
“MACC is ready to reveal to the court the justification for the freezing of the assets.
