INVESTIGATIONS into Perikatan Nasional’s (PN) alleged use of gambling proceeds to fund their campaigns in last year’s general election have not ended, Azalina Othman Said said today.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had merely not opened investigation papers on the matter.

In a statement today, she said the MACC still has the right to investigate and open papers as and when new information and evidence is obtained.

She also warned against politicising news that the anti-graft agency had not opened any such papers.

“I would like to stress that the answer I provided in the Dewan Rakyat on behalf of MACC did not state that any investigations on the matter have been stopped or dropped. 

“Instead, the MACC only stated that no investigation papers have been opened, as the information it has obtained so far is general in nature,” she said.

The Pengerang MP also noted that other agencies such as the police and the Inland Revenue Board also have powers to investigate any crimes.

“As such, it is unfair for any party to politicise or distort the answer I provided to Pasir Mas MP (Ahmad Fadhli Shaari) on the matter, much less make baseless accusations against the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim). 

“I urge all parties to respect the rule of law principle and not make reckless conclusions based on the answer I gave,” she added. 

Anwar, in days after becoming the prime minister, had said his administration was looking into allegations that PAS and Bersatu had used gambling proceeds from 4D special draws by gaming companies to help fund their election campaign.

Azalina was reported as saying in a parliamentary reply yesterday that the MACC would not pursue further action on the allegation.

She said that MACC found the information on the allegations “too general” and could not be confirmed. As such, she said, MACC did not open any investigation papers.

She was replying to PAS Youth chief and Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhli Shaari’s question on the case.

Following that, PAS information chief Khairil Nizam Khirudin today said Anwar must apologise to PN parties over his remarks.

“It is clear proof that the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional government led by the prime minister lied,” he said in a statement today.

“The allegation was first made by the prime minister a few weeks after taking office, and this confirms he has lied.  

“We urge the prime minister to issue a public apology for the lies and slander he has hurled against PN.” – May 26, 2023.