Latest news with #DzulkifliAhmad
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Former MACC chief questions legality of second seizure of Ilham Tower
Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad has questioned the legality of the second seizure of Ilham Tower, suggesting the move may exceed the bounds of Malaysian law. Now a practising lawyer, Dzulkifli pointed out that the asset had already been seized under Section 38(1) of the MACC Act on Dec 18, 2023. He said action under Section 38 requires the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) to be satisfied that the asset in question - Ilham Tower - either constitutes the proceeds of, or is evidence related to, a corruption offence. "If no charges are brought or civil forfeiture proceedings initiated before June 17, 2025 - the end of the statutory 18-month period - it raises a fundamental question as to whether the original seizure was justified," he said in a statement today. Dzulkifli, the MACC's third chief commissioner, added that although the MACC Act and the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) operate under different legal frameworks, two overlapping seizure orders on the same property may be seen as an overreach of authority. "This is because legal powers must be exercised based on necessity, fairness, and proportionality," he said. It was reported yesterday that Ilham Tower, located on Jalan Binjai, had once again been seized by MACC. The commission said it had obtained approval from the DPP to seize the building, which is linked to the late former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin. According to the agency, the latest seizure was carried out via an Immovable Property Seizure Notice dated June 4, 2025, under Section 51(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA). Dzulkifli said enforcement actions must be grounded in clear legal thresholds, not procedural convenience. "If AMLA is invoked merely to maintain control of the asset as the earlier MACC order nears expiry, it may undermine the rule of law and call into question the legitimacy of the original seizure," he said. He also noted that the absence of further action by June 18 would suggest that Ilham Tower was never genuinely linked to a corruption offence under the MACC Act. "This raises a critical question: why is there now a need for a new seizure order under Section 51 of AMLA? What new evidence, if any, justifies this action?" he asked. He added that the Ilham Tower case presents a significant test of how far enforcement and prosecutorial powers may be exercised within the law. "With the June 17 deadline approaching, all eyes are on the DPP's next move. Will there be a charge? Forfeiture? Or will the order lapse - signalling that the asset was wrongly targeted from the outset?" he said.
Free Malaysia Today
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Lawyer seeks probe into any role by MACC in Pamela's disappearance
Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo said MACC has several questions to answer, including who gave the order to pursue her client, Pamela Ling. PETALING JAYA : Lawyer Sangeet Kaur Deo has called for an immediate investigation into any role the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) might have in the disappearance of Pamela Ling. Sangeet, who represents Ling's family, said it had been 33 days since the woman's disappearance, yet the anti-graft agency had not offered 'any real account' of its actions in the weeks leading up to the day she went missing. 'An immediate, independent, and transparent investigation into MACC's role is essential,' she said in a statement. Last Wednesday, former MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad raised concerns about the integrity and legality of the graft and money laundering investigation into Ling and her husband Hah Tiing Siu. Dzulkifli said it was a cause for concern that Ling's lawyer had revealed that her client was called in and had her statement recorded on nine separate occasions after being released from remand. He said once someone is arrested and their statement taken, the law only allows further questioning if they are reclassified as a witness, and that too only with the approval of the deputy public prosecutor. MACC released a detailed chronology of its investigation into Ling and Hah on May 7, showing that Ling had previously refused to cooperate in a graft probe and was arrested in Singapore before being returned to Malaysia. Sangeet today said that MACC must explain who gave the order to pursue Ling, why she was repeatedly pressed on personal matters unrelated to MACC's legal authority, and why no arrest warrant was issued when Ling stopped reporting to the agency. She claimed that MACC had aggressively pried into a matter involving Hah for allegedly fraudulently transferring company shares and forging Ling's signature – a case that is now before the Singapore High Court. Sangeet also claimed that MACC had failed to mention how its officers served notices improperly through Ling's father and used an arrest warrant related to a case which had been settled months before, to lure her from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur. She said Malaysians deserved a corruption-fighting institution that commands trust, not one that fuels mistrust by 'retreating into silence when transparency is most needed'. Sangeet previously questioned whether MACC had filed a missing person's report on Ling after her no-show at its headquarters. Ling went missing on April 9 while en route to the MACC headquarters to give her statement. Her brother, Simon, claimed that his sister was abducted. He said the e-hailing car in which Ling was travelling was intercepted by three unidentified vehicles and that she was instructed to get into one of them.
Free Malaysia Today
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Ex-MACC chief questions integrity of probe into Pamela Ling
Former MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad said all enforcement agencies, including the anti-graft agency, must follow due process to protect individuals' rights and ensure justice. PETALING JAYA : A former chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has raised concerns about the integrity and legality of the graft and money laundering investigation into Pamela Ling – who is missing – and her husband Hah Tiing Siu. Dzulkifli Ahmad said it was a cause for concern that Ling's lawyer had revealed that her client was called in and had her statement recorded on nine separate occasions after being released from remand. He said that once someone was arrested and their statement taken, the law only allowed further questioning if they were reclassified as a witness, and that too only with the approval of the deputy public prosecutor. 'Under the MACC Act and established legal procedure, it is a fundamental principle of due process that the power of arrest should only be exercised when sufficient evidence has been gathered to support a formal charge. 'Arrests made prematurely – at a stage where investigations are still in progress – may not only be unjustified but also risk contravening both the rule of law and the core tenets of justice,' he said in a statement today. Dzulkifli said MACC should emulate its own approach in other high-profile cases, such as those involving former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and business figures like Vivy Yusof, where no arrests were made during investigations. 'These examples reflect a more measured and lawful approach that should be consistently applied,' he said, adding that all enforcement agencies, including MACC, must follow due process to protect individuals' rights and ensure justice. Earlier today, Sangeet Kaur Deo said Ling had claimed that she had been arrested and remanded without a proper legal basis and in breach of due process. Sangeet said the travel ban, imposed since October, and the repeated questioning reflected treatment that was 'far from ordinary and totally inconsistent' with that expected of a witness assisting in investigations. She added that after relentlessly pursuing Ling, MACC had remained silent about her disappearance. MACC released a detailed chronology of its investigation into Ling and Hah this afternoon, which revealed that Ling had previously refused to cooperate in a graft probe and was arrested in Singapore before being returned to Malaysia. Ling reportedly went missing on April 9 while on her way to the MACC headquarters to give her statement. Her brother, Simon Ling, claimed his sister was abducted. He said the e-hailing car in which Ling was travelling was intercepted by three unidentified vehicles and that she was instructed to get into one of them. Yesterday, the e-hailing driver who took Ling to the MACC headquarters on April 9 said he was forced to mark the ride as completed after Ling was taken by her abductors, who were wearing police uniforms and vests.
Malay Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Ex-MACC chief urges police to intensify AMLA use against billion-ringgit online scams
KUCHING May 7 — Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad has called on enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), to intensify their use of powers under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) in the fight against billion-ringgit online scams. Responding to a The Star report on May 4 detailing how a business owner was conned out of RM1.8 million in an online investment scam, Dzulkifli warned that such fraud cases are becoming alarmingly frequent and causing heavy losses to Malaysians. 'It is time for enforcement agencies such as the PDRM to utilise their powers under AMLA more efficiently and aggressively. 'The main focus should not just be on arresting the perpetrators, assuming proper investigations are even carried out, but also on tracing the flow of illicit funds and recovering the stolen money,' he said in a statement yesterday. He emphasised that action must go beyond arrests, especially in cases involving international syndicates and mule accounts, which are notoriously difficult to track. Dzulkifli also said enforcement bodies should align their investigative strategies with the objectives of AMLA, including freezing, seizure, and forfeiture of criminal proceeds. 'The loss of RM1.8 million is just one of many similar cases we continue to see. The emphasis now must be on asset recovery, which is returning what's been stolen to the victims.' Dzulkifli, who now heads Amlac Academy, a training institution offering a Professional Diploma in Corporate Anti-Corruption Management, continues to play an active role in raising awareness on financial crimes. Through the academy, he advocates for professional upskilling and a deeper understanding of anti-corruption measures to improve corporate governance and public integrity. He concluded that stronger enforcement and greater public education must go hand in hand if Malaysia is to seriously curb the scourge of online financial fraud. — The Borneo Post
Borneo Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Call to intensify AMLA powers to tackle billion-ringgit scams
Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad KUCHING (May 7): Former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad has called on enforcement agencies, particularly the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), to intensify their use of powers under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) in the fight against billion-ringgit online scams. Responding to a The Star report on May 4 detailing how a business owner was conned out of RM1.8 million in an online investment scam, Dzulkifli warned that such fraud cases are becoming alarmingly frequent and causing heavy losses to Malaysians. 'It is time for enforcement agencies such as the PDRM to utilise their powers under AMLA more efficiently and aggressively. 'The main focus should not just be on arresting the perpetrators, assuming proper investigations are even carried out, but also on tracing the flow of illicit funds and recovering the stolen money,' he said in a statement yesterday. He emphasised that action must go beyond arrests, especially in cases involving international syndicates and mule accounts, which are notoriously difficult to track. Dzulkifli also said enforcement bodies should align their investigative strategies with the objectives of AMLA, including freezing, seizure, and forfeiture of criminal proceeds. 'The loss of RM1.8 million is just one of many similar cases we continue to see. The emphasis now must be on asset recovery, which is returning what's been stolen to the victims.' Dzulkifli, who now heads Amlac Academy, a training institution offering a Professional Diploma in Corporate Anti-Corruption Management, continues to play an active role in raising awareness on financial crimes. Through the academy, he advocates for professional upskilling and a deeper understanding of anti-corruption measures to improve corporate governance and public integrity. He concluded that stronger enforcement and greater public education must go hand in hand if Malaysia is to seriously curb the scourge of online financial fraud.
