KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Muhammad Adlan Berhan is ready and willing to assist in any investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged corruption and embezzlement in the registration, recruitment and biometric storage of foreign workers in a ministry, according to his lawyer Datuk Dr Baljit Singh Sidhu .
In a statement issued today, Baljit said his client, who is the son-in-law of former prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, denied he left Malaysia as an attempt to avoid or stalling investigation by the MACC.
“Our client, like any other free citizen of Malaysia, has the right of movement and travel, including overseas, and more so to conduct his business in any part of the world. The exercise of these rights by our client should not be construed or mischaracterised as an attempt to avoid or stalling investigation.
“Our client categorically states that he is innocent and is entitled not to be tried in the court of public opinion by any enforcement agencies.
“He is ready and willing to assist in any investigation and has full faith in the judicial process but at the same time will jealously protect his rights and liberty from being taken away not in accordance with law,” Baljit said, adding that his client has also learnt that a travel ban has been imposed on him as his passport has been classified as such by the Immigration Department.
The counsel further said, his client stated that he will certainly return to Malaysia as soon as possible to answer all questions and to assist the MACC with any investigation so long as the elements of threats and persecution are eliminated.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki in a press conference today said the MACC will request the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) to include the names of two individuals, Muhammad Adlan, 48, and Mansoor Saat, 69, on the International Police (Interpol) red notice list, if they fail to face prosecution.
Prior to this, the MACC, in a statement, stated that checks with the Immigration Department found that Muhammad Adlan and Mansoor left Malaysia on May 17 and 21 respectively and there was no record of them re-entering the country.
Azam Baki said Muhammad Adlan and Mansoor Saat were required to appear before the commission for questioning.
“We have also requested for their international passports to be blacklisted,” he told a press conference after the passing out parade for MACC officers here today.
He said the MACC had contacted the lawyers representing Muhammad Adlan and Mansoor several times to get the two men to come forward, but they had yet to do so.
According to Azam, the MACC has obtained information on the whereabouts of the two men but declined to reveal it.
He also did not rule out the possibility of calling-up Muhyiddin to help MACC’s investigation of the case.
In a separate development, Azam said MACC was examining new evidence before summoning Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for questioning over the theft of rare earth elements (REE) in Bukit Enggang, Sik, Kedah.
Regarding the election campaign in the six states, Azam said the MACC had received 11 reports on corruption and misconduct as of yesterday.
“Two reports were received at the MACC headquarters while the other nine were received at the state MACC offices. We are examining all the reports before taking further action,” he said. – BERNAMA
