Invoke Solutions Sdn Bhd, a company founded by PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli, has been raided by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for the second time.
Rafizi said the Customs Department also sent a notice to the company saying that a raid would take place at its office later today.
He described the raids as political persecution but said he would cooperate with the authorities.
“As we speak, the MACC is conducting a second raid on Invoke, and later today, another raid by the Customs Department.
“I understand what is happening and Barisan Nasional (BN) also understands that they will lose in the general election.
“This is why, during the last three days of the campaign, they are desperate to find a political bullet.
“It’s all because I am on the frontlines of the (Pakatan Harapan) election campaign against Umno, BN and Perikatan Nasional.
“I understand that the motive of this investigation is to find something before polling day, thinking they could attack me and sway public support,” Rafizi said at a press conference at the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya today.
Earlier, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki was quoted as saying that the anti-graft agency had only conducted a normal investigation into Invoke and did not carry out raids.
It claimed the visit was to take documents related to its investigation on the data analysis company.
Previously, the MACC announced that it would open an investigation paper regarding Rafizi’s property declaration, following a report made by an NGO regarding the asset declaration.
On Tuesday night (Nov 15) at a ceramah in Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur, Rafizi revealed that Invoke Solutions had been “raided”.
He questioned the MACC’s motive as they seemed to be targetting the firm instead of investigating what had been revealed concerning the littoral combat ships (LCS) and a RM2 billion flood mitigation project involving the environment and water ministry.
“Today, as I am campaigning, MACC raided my office and detained my staff for seven hours. We spoke about the RM2 billion (flood mitigation) scandal, they did not investigate. We spoke about the LCS and showed them the evidence about (Datuk Abdul) Latiff Ahmad (former deputy Defence Minister), about the RM200 million that was paid to a fake company, they did not investigate.
“Every sen involving the company belongs to me and the investors, not public funds. I took money from my own pocket and pay the 150 staff to educate them about business.”
In another matter, Rafizi said he will continue his exposure on the Sungai Langat 2 flood mitigation project scandal which he claimed involved Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahiim Tuan Man.
He alleged that he had other evidence to show that the project was approved after Parliament was dissolved, which is against the law.
“Let’s see what Azam and MACC will say after this. Tuan Ibrahim thinks I only have one or two documents. Usually, when I expose anything, I can drag it for months,” said Rafizi.
He previously demanded Tuan Ibrahim’s explanation regarding the status of the project.
He claimed that the ministry was in the process of awarding the tender for the project directly to a contractor through a letter dated October 7, 2022, although the decision can’t be made by a caretaker government.
Following the allegation, Tuan Ibrahim said the letter shown by Rafizi was not issued by him or his ministry and that the letter was issued before the Parliament was dissolved.
Meanwhile, former PKR vice-president Tian Chua has accused the MACC of political interference for its raid on Invoke’s office.
The Batu parliamentary seat’s independent candidate said the raid during the GE15 campaign period was “untimely”.
“The raid was based on flimsy complaints filed recently by Rafizi’s political opponents. I see this as political interference,” he said.
He said Rafizi could have been summoned by MACC for an interview at the headquarters, as per normal procedure.
“We seldom see (complaints) being acted upon so expeditiously and openly as yesterday on Invoke. There have been many complaints by others which were not addressed in this manner.
“MACC must maintain its professionalism and integrity in order to be relevant in combating corruption,” Chua added.