ANTI-GRAFT authorities must act swiftly to probe Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi instead of avoiding the matter, Amanah Youth said today after submitting a memorandum demanding the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) take action.

Amanah Youth vice-chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin said he was worried that the commission appeared to be avoiding an investigation into Zahid, who is alleged to have had RM230 million while he was Umno Youth chief in the 1990s.

“The allegations on the RM230 million is a serious matter that requires immediate investigation,” Shazni told reporters outside the MACC office in Putrajaya today.

“The investigation should be independent and covers three issues: how could an Umno Youth leader have that amount of wealth at that time? What were his sources of income that enabled him to acquire such wealth? And, was there any abuse of power or corruption that led him having such wealth?”

The memorandum includes a chronology of the allegations, as well as links to news sources that reported about the issue.

The allegations against Zahid was first made by Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad on August 1 in a blog post.

Zahid, who is also home minister, has since offered himself to be investigated by MACC over the allegations.

On August 11, MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said investigations into a person’s wealth could only be carried out if there was proof that the wealth had been obtained with elements of abuse of power or corruption.

Amanah Youth deputy chief Faiz Fadzil said the graft-busters should act as an independent body and avoid being a tool used by any party.

“We urge MACC to act in a transparent, independent and fair manner in handling this issue.

“In the case involving a Penang exco, he was arrested and remanded within days, (so) why is it that Zahid’s case, which involves a huge sum of money for the past 20 ears, is not open to investigation?,” he said, referring to Penang exco Phee Boon Poh, who was arrested recently over letters he wrote in his capacity as environmental exco to postpone the enforcement of action against an illegal factory in Bukit Mertajam.

“What we want is an investigation into this matter (relating to Zahid).” – August 14, 2017.