PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today summoned four individuals in relation to its investigation into former finance minister Daim Zainuddin.
Lawyers representing the four, however, criticised the commission for barring them from accompanying their clients during questioning.
Lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan described MACC’s decision to prohibit entry to the lawyers as “oppressive, unlawful, and high-handed”.
“In particular, one of the lawyers representing the individual was with the client in the interview room when suddenly MACC officers rushed in and forced the lawyers to leave.
“MACC thus prevented us from representing and advising our clients,” Rajesh said in a statement to FMT.
When questioned, the MACC officers allegedly told the lawyers that it was “an order from a higher-up”, he said.
He also said the MACC’s actions were “extraordinary and uncalled for”.
“The right to legal representation is sacrosanct and it is completely unacceptable for a person to be denied the right to consult his lawyer. The MACC is acting in an abhorrent manner.”
Rajesh said all four clients were cooperative and promptly appeared at the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya for their statements to be recorded despite being given less than 24 hours’ notice to do so.
He then called for MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki to explain why the lawyers had been barred from accompanying their clients.
This is not the first time the issue of lawyers being disallowed from representing their clients has been raised.
In June last year, Lawyers for Liberty raised similar concerns. At the time, MACC deputy director (Legal and Prosecution Division) Wan Shaharuddin Wan Ladin said the law did not provide that a lawyer must be present during questioning.
Last month, the MACC revealed it was probing Daim for alleged corruption and money laundering following the seizure of Ilham Tower, the skyscraper reportedly belonging to Daim and his family.
Daim has since denied any corrupt act or wrongdoing and said that the probe was “nothing short of a political witch-hunt”.
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