Ex-MACC chief questions legality of Pamela Ling probe
Dzulkifli says he was surprised to learn that Ling had previously been arrested and remanded by MACC, which according to him confirmed her legal status as a suspect at the time.
KUCHING (May 7): Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad has expressed serious concerns over the conduct and legality of the anti-graft body's ongoing investigation into Pamela Ling.
He said he was surprised to learn that Ling had previously been arrested and remanded by MACC, which according to him confirmed her legal status as a suspect at the time.
'What raises alarm is that following her release from remand, her statements continued to be recorded on at least nine separate occasions,' he said in a statement today.
Dzulkifli said such a sequence of events merited close scrutiny, as under existing legal procedure, once a person has been arrested and has their statements recorded, the law does not permit further statements to be taken in the same capacity unless they are reclassified as a witness—and even then only with the approval of a Deputy Public Prosecutor.
He said under the MACC Act and legal principles governing due process, arrests should only be made once there is sufficient evidence to support a formal charge.
'Premature arrests, when investigations are still ongoing, risk undermining justice and the rule of law,' he warned.
He also cited examples of other investigations that support his call for consistency and adherence to legal procedures, in which he noted that in the case of former Prime Minister Dato Sri Ismail Sabri, the MACC did not arrest him even though he was a suspect, opting instead to record his statement without detention.
'Similarly, in the case of businesswoman Vivy Yusof, she was not arrested during the investigation and was only brought to court once charges were filed. These examples reflect a more measured and lawful approach that should be consistently applied,' he said.
He urged enforcement agencies, including the MACC, to ensure that all actions taken are in full compliance with the law and that individuals' rights are not violated in the process.
Dzulkifli currently serves as Amlac Academy president. Dzulkifli Ahmad investigation legality MACC Pamela Ling
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