Government urged to launch royal inquiry into claims PM scuttled graft probe against former aide

The government has been urged to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate allegations that Anwar Ibrahim ordered top graft buster Azam Baki to spare his former aide Farhash Wafa Salvador from a corruption probe, two days after a lawyer expressed doubts that police could effectively investigate the prime minister for abuse of power.

Armada, the youth wing of Bersatu, made the demand following a damning report by financial news service Bloomberg last week, which quoted sources from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) as saying that Anwar had interfered in the affairs of the anti-graft body.

"I think this is something that should be taken seriously," said Armada chairman Zahin Zainal.

"The allegations involve him, so he must be more firm than merely issuing a statement."

Earlier, the wing filed a police report calling for an investigation into the allegations carried in a report by Bloomberg on Sept 26.

The report quoted sources as saying that Azam, MACC's chief commissioner, had told his officers that he had been instructed by Anwar not to investigate Farhash over the latter's controversial purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.

The report also claims that a series of investigations this year against former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his children were launched on Anwar's instructions.

Both the Prime Minister's Office and MACC have denied the claims.

On Monday, Daim's wife Naimah Khalid filed a police report on his behalf calling for Anwar to be investigated for abuse of power.

Her lawyer has since questioned the seriousness of the police in investigating the complaint.

"The complaint is being investigated by an inspector at the Sentul police headquarters. But this is a complaint lodged in which we want the PM to be investigated. Can an inspector investigate a PM? It's highly unlikely," said Rajesh Nagarajan, speaking to reporters after accompanying Naimah who gave her statement to police on Tuesday.

Zahin, meanwhile, reminded authorities of two earlier investigations against former human resource minister V Sivakumar as well as Mohammad Agus Yusoff, the former head of the Community Communications Department(J-KOM), the government's propaganda unit under the Prime Minister's Department.

Sivakumar was summoned by MACC over an investigation into allegations of corruption in connection with the recruitment of foreign workers.

Agus, who resigned in November last year shortly after a video surfaced showing him and his officer having a lewd conversation, was investigated for sexual harassment.

Police had announced that the investigation papers on Agus were submitted to the Attorney-General's Chambers in December last year.

Zahin said there was no news on the status of either case.

"The attorney-general also needs to explain why no charges have been filed. Is it because there was no wrongdoing?" he asked.