Anwar: Let MACC arrest people every day, I won't interfere
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has no objections to the MACC taking aggressive action to recover stolen public funds, including making arrests daily if necessary.
Speaking at the Madani Rakyat programme in Lumut, Perak, today, Anwar stressed that reforms in governance must prioritise curbing abuse of power and increasing transparency.
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Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
SST expansion for imported food aimed at high-income earners, says Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the people should compare the expansion of the SST with the GST, which was even imposed on basic necessities like sugar and flour. PETALING JAYA : Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government's decision to expand the scope of the sales and service tax on imported products, saying it is targeted at high-income earners. Anwar, who is also the finance minister, said food items such as avocados and cod fish, which were imported, were generally purchased by the wealthy. 'If the rich want to eat avocados, then they will need to pay a little more,' he said at an event in Ipoh, Perak, today. On June 9, the finance ministry announced that a 5% to 10% rate will be imposed on non-essential goods from July 1, although basic necessities would not be taxed. Still, the announcement triggered brickbats. Other food items which will be slapped with a 5% tax include king crabs, salmon and truffles. Anwar also touched on the brouhaha over imported bananas, which were included in the revised list of items to be checked. He said locally produced bananas like pisang emas and pisang rastali would not be taxed. He urged the public to compare the expansion of the SST with the goods and services tax, which he said was even imposed on basic necessities like sugar and flour. 'Even though the rate was low, the rakyat had to bear the GST,' he said. Anwar admitted that while it was easier to implement the GST when compared to the SST, he wondered if the government should tax fishermen, small-time farmers and street sweepers. He said that whatever revenue was generated from tax collection would be used to increase the salaries of civil servants, social aid such as the 'Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah', and to develop infrastructure. Anwar said the government had allocated RM13 billion for the STR cash aid for the B40 and M40 groups to help cushion the impact of the rising cost of living. 'I really hope the public understands this,' he said.
Malaysiakini
9 hours ago
- Malaysiakini
Anwar: Let MACC arrest people every day, I won't interfere
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has no objections to the MACC taking aggressive action to recover stolen public funds, including making arrests daily if necessary. Speaking at the Madani Rakyat programme in Lumut, Perak, today, Anwar stressed that reforms in governance must prioritise curbing abuse of power and increasing transparency.
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
Sabah mining: MACC must restore public confidence, says Bersatu women's chief
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must take immediate steps to restore public confidence by ensuring transparency in its Sabah mining scandal probe, says Sabah Bersatu Women chief Rahimah Majid. Rahimah said that the commission should provide a public update on the status of investigations involving all individuals named by the whistleblower and urgently introduce external oversight, either through a Parliamentary Select Committee on Corruption or the creation of an Independent Anti-Corruption Ombudsman. "These steps are essential to rebuild trust. Malaysians deserve full clarity on who is being investigated, and they need to see that no one is above the law," she asserted. Her remarks follow MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki's recent statement confirming that at least two individuals are expected to be charged soon in connection with alleged bribery tied to a controversial mining project in Sabah. However, the whistleblower who initially exposed the scandal claims that at least eight other individuals were involved, raising serious concerns about the completeness of the current investigations. "The people must be assured that justice is being applied fairly. It's troubling if only a few individuals are held accountable when more names have reportedly been submitted to the MACC," she said. She stressed that the scandal extends beyond state-level politics, highlighting it as a national test of Malaysia's commitment to transparency, accountability, and equal justice. "Sabahans are watching. Malaysians are watching. Justice must not be selective. This is not just about one case; it is about whether our institutions can be trusted to act impartially," she added.
