MACC commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad should come out to clear the air over a video clip allegedly featuring him with a married woman holidaying in Bali, DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo said today.

Gobind, who is also the party’s law bureau chairman, said Dzulkifli must come clean and deny if he is not the man (in the video), to safeguard his good name as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief.

“Tan Sri Dzulkifli must clear the air and put the speculations to rest. The video has gone viral. If it is not him, then I urge him to say so openly,” said Gobind, who is Puchong MP.

It is the proper thing to do for someone holding such a high position in MACC, he said, adding that this applies to police and other agencies.

“They have to realise that the image of their agencies cannot be compromised to such an extent.

“This is to ensure public confidence in the agency,” he said at a press conference at the Parliament lobby today.

He said he made this call in his capacity as a member of parliament because the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was a creature of statute.

“When allegations are made against any officer who holds office in that agency, silence is not an option. These officers must respond,” he said.

He also said that Dzulkifli had to lead by example.

“It is for this reason that I call upon Dzulkifli to break his silence. Are you the man in the video clips?”

The Attorney-General’s Chamber’s, early last week, announced that a special task force had been set up to closely monitor investigations into the alleged extramarital affair of the MACC chief.

Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali said the task force was formed on Monday to monitor investigations into the alleged offences under Section 498 of the Penal Code and other related offences.

Section 498 refers to enticing a married woman with the intent of having illicit intercourse. Those found guilty face up to two years’ jail, a fine, or both.

“The task force was formed in view of the seriousness of the allegation than could affect the integrity of the chief commissioner of the MACC,” Apandi said.

He also cautioned all parties from making any comments that could jeopardise the ongoing investigations.

“We will ensure that the investigations will not discourage whistleblowers or competent witnesses from coming forward to assist in the investigations.

“This is so that the truth can prevail,” said Apandi, adding this was in line with the Attorney-General’s Chambers’ current best practices of prosecutorial policy.

Inspector-General of Police Fuzi Harun announced they were investigating the allegation against the MACC chief.

“The investigation is ongoing. We are in the process of determining the facts. If need be, we will make an arrest,” he had said.

Apandi said the Attorney-General’s Chambers had received numerous queries from the public relating to the reports lodged against the MACC chief.

He assured the public that, in his capacity as public prosecutor, he would exercise discretion in this matter judiciously and in accordance with the law.

“The Attorney-General’s Chambers is steadfast in upholding justice and the rule of law,” Apandi said.

Apandi’s statement came just hours after The Malaysian Insight reported that videos had surfaced of what appeared to be MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad and a married woman holding hands and entering a restaurant in Bali, Indonesia.

The one minute, 40 second-long video was uploaded on YouTube yesterday, with links to a blog containing posts with accusations of a top Umno leader orchestrating a cover-up of Dzulkifli’s extra-marital affair.

A sales executive lodged a police report on the video after it surfaced on YouTube.

The woman at the centre of the allegation had previously come out to say she would accept the blame but would not reveal the reason behind her divorce. She had also said she had been under pressure to clear her name.

She also apologised to Dzulkifli and his family in a Facebook post.

Dzulkifli broke his silence last week, saying he would not allow these “dirty tactics” to sidetrack him from his fight against graft.

Dzulkifli had said the attacks were due to the MACC’s aggressive approach since early this year to tackle corruption and abuse of power.

“These dirty tactics are meant to smear my image and reputation as MACC commissioner and to bring down the credibility of the MACC in our efforts to ensure that this country is free from corruption and abuse of power,” he had said, without elaborating on the “dirty tactics”.

He said he would not bow down to such attacks and would continue fighting graft. – October 24, 2017.