The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will start probing Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for his alleged involvement in money politics.
Graft-busters are probing him under Section 17 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009, which covers the offence of giving or accepting gratification by an agent, the New Straits Times (NST) reported.
Insiders told the daily that Zahid could be probed for allegedly giving out cash in the run-up to the July Umno polls where he eventually went on to win the presidency, which was also contested by Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and former Umno Youth chief and Rembau member of parliament Khairy Jamaluddin.
It is understood that “evidence” which was supposedly furnished to the MACC with regard to the case, involved a sum in the region of RM150,000 exchanging hands among Umno leaders in Sabah.
The MACC confirmed on Sunday that it received a report on Friday, alleging that Zahid had been involved in corrupt practices in his bid to win the presidency.
Those with knowledge of the case, which implicated Zahid as the source of monies that were given out in Sabah, said the matter was by all means not an “internal party matter”, but one which allegedly involved elements that were considered under the law as a criminal act.
The Umno disciplinary board told the NST that it would, for now, leave it to the MACC to probe the case.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, said the board had yet to receive any reports on Zahid’s alleged transgressions.
It was, however, ready to take up the case if reports on the matter were lodged.