THE Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) wants the government and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to provide answers on Kuala Langat MP Dr Xavier Jeyakumar’s case.

In a statement, the graft watchdog said the former minister would have nothing to fear if there was nothing to investigate.

“As it stands, MACC should be left to do its job, but the status of the case is now up in the air following Xavier’s move to support Perikatan Nasional.

“Since staying silent reinforces speculation that Xavier could now be free from any repercussions from MACC.”

Last week, Xavier who was a PKR vice president, announced he was leaving the party to stand as a government-friendly independent, effective immediately.

He said he had grown extremely frustrated following the events of the past year as the opposition was pressing for elections when it should have been helping the government.

However, PKR’s Sungai Buloh MP Sivarasa Rasiah alleged that Xavier would not have jumped ship to PN unless there was pressure on him to do so, given an MACC investigation in which he is a person of interest, which Sivarasa calls “selective prosecution”.

This investigation has led to the arrest of close associates of Xavier, including Perak PKR deputy chief M.A. Tinagaran, seizing RM1.2 million in cash, freezing RM77 million in bank accounts, and the impound of several luxury vehicles.

C4 said urgent answers were needed as to what happens now to the cash and the frozen accounts, and if this meant the case was now dropped following Xavier’s move.

“We urge the MACC to conduct its investigations without favour or fear, and to further establish its independence to remove any undue influence that may affect investigation results.

“C4 and the MACC have long worked together on much needed reforms to strengthen the agency’s independence, and state our disappointment in the lack of political will to uplift this commission to its necessary stature.”

The group also said that all MPs targeted by PN to defect, to stand brave and uphold the interests of their constituencies, and come forward with details and facts of threats or coercion, either of themselves or their party members.

“Failure to do so can only be seen as a compromise of the commission itself, and an overall loss of trust in the institutions of Malaysia as impartial bodies.

“This is especially important in the wake of allegations that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) had also fallen into a cloud of compromise when former governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz may have turned a blind eye to suspicious transactions from 1MDB-linked funds involving her husband’s company.” – March 19, 2021.