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Has Xavier’s case been dropped after switching to PN, C4 asks MACC

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Anti-graft NGO says the status of the case was now ‘up in the air’, following Xavier Jayakumar’s resignation from PKR to support the PN administration.

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Free Malaysia Today
MACC chief Azam Baki had confirmed on Feb 24 that ex-minister Xavier Jayakumar was under investigation.

PETALING JAYA:
An anti-graft group has urged the government and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to provide updates on its investigation on Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar over alleged corruption.

The Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4 Center) said the status of the case was now “up in the air”, following Xavier’s resignation from PKR to support the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration.

It said staying silent on the case would only reinforce speculation that Xavier was free of prosecution now that he backed the government.

It was reported that on Feb 24, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki had confirmed that the anti-graft agency was also investigating Xavier, following the arrest of his close associate MA Tinagaran a week before.

“The question remains, however, that if there was nothing to investigate, why would Xavier fear repercussions and possible arrest?” C4 said in a statement.

“Urgent answers are needed as to what happens now to the seized RM1.2 million in cash from Tinagaran and the frozen RM77 million in bank accounts linked to him, and if this means the case is now dropped following Xavier’s move.”

Expressing its disappointment in the lack of political will to uplift MACC to its “necessary stature”, C4 urged the anti-graft agency to conduct its investigations without fear or favour to establish its independence.

“A failure to do so can only be seen as a compromise of the commission itself, and an overall loss of trust in the institutions of Malaysia as impartial bodies.”

It also called on all MPs who have been approached to jump ship to uphold the interest of their constituencies and come forward with details of any threat of coercion they faced.

A week ago, Xavier announced his resignation as vice-president and member of PKR, saying he would continue to serve his constituency and support the current government as an independent MP.

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail responded to the resignation saying Xavier had told the leadership that MACC had made him a “target” of a plethora of investigations.

Tinagaran was detained by MACC on suspicion of accepting bribes from several companies for a project awarded to them by the water, land and natural resources ministry in 2019 when Xavier was at its helm as minister under the former Pakatan Harapan administration.

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