18-2-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has granted an extension to Mr. Mirzan Mahathir, one of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s sons, to declare his wealth as part of an ongoing investigation into his business activities. Mr. Mirzan was initially given a deadline of 30 days on January 18 to disclose all his assets, failure to comply could have led to legal charges, as was the case with Dr. Mahathir’s former adviser in January.
MACC Chief Azam Baki confirmed that an extension was granted to Mr. Mirzan after he requested additional time to complete his asset declaration. The exact length of the extension was not specified, but according to the Star newspaper, another 30 days was given to him.
The investigation by MACC follows the inclusion of Mr. Mirzan’s name in leaks of offshore business records that were exposed in recent years by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. The Malaysian authorities have been intensifying their probes into former leaders and political rivals of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since he assumed power in 2022 on an anti-corruption platform.
In addition to Mr. Mirzan, other individuals under investigation include former Prime Ministers Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Muhyiddin Yassin, as well as the leader of an opposition-led state. Dr. Mahathir, who was hospitalized on January 26 for an infection, has claimed that his son is being targeted due to his relation to him and has alleged political motivations behind the investigation.
MACC recently issued an asset declaration notice to another one of Dr. Mahathir’s sons, Mr. Mokhzani, several days after Dr. Mahathir spoke out about the probe.
Prime Minister Anwar has sought to address criticism of his reform agenda following the reduction of the sentence for former leader Najib Razak, who was convicted for crimes related to state fund 1Malaysia Development Bhd. Najib, a member of the United Malays National Organisation (Umno), a party that supported Anwar’s rise to power, received leniency due to royal intervention. This decision came less than a year after the government dropped 47 criminal charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the president of Umno.
Anwar has denied interfering in these cases or in MACC’s investigations.
