KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement authorities are free to take action against individuals implicated in the Pandora Papers leak, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The prime minister said the government will not interfere or stop the authorities from pursuing any case based on information made in the papers if there is enough evidence.
“We are an open country. If anyone has a case against them, the authorities are free to take action.
“The authorities have access to read what has been revealed (in the Pandora Papers). The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) knows what has been reported.
“So we leave it to the authorities and we will not prevent them from taking action.
“However, there needs to be proof (of wrongdoing) before taking action,” said Ismail Sabri at a press conference after visiting the Seri Perak public housing in Sentul here.
The Pandora Papers refers to the recent leak of some 2.94 terabytes of data, which includes the opening of offshore accounts involving former and current government and political leaders around the world.
Thousands of influential people around the world, including several prominent Malaysians, have been named and linked to secret offshore accounts in the leak.
Meanwhile, Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said four police reports had been received on the matter and two investigation papers had been opened.
“Of the reports received, two have been classified as no further action.
“These two reports were connected to memorandums handed over urging police to investigate.
What needs fixing?: Ismail Sabri (second from left) with Shahidan (left) chatting with Muhammad Arif Izzuddin Shahril Sham (second from right) about the playground facilities at the Seri Perak flats in Sentul. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
“We have taken statements from the complainants over the two IPs.
“One of the IPs was referred to Bank Negara Malaysia on Thursday,” he said, adding that the other investigation paper would be referred to Bank Negara Malaysia tomorrow for further investigation.
On a separate matter, Ismail Sabri urged unvaccinated individuals to consider getting their Covid-19 jabs as they will lose out on many perks if they do not.
“We have not made any decision to make vaccines mandatory. But I’m encouraging those who are unvaccinated to get your jabs.
“You’ll lose out on many privileges if you don’t.
“You won’t be able to balik kampung, and even if you try to sneak your way home, you can still get caught. The police recently arrested several individuals who did so.
“You cannot go for umrah or possibly perform the haj next year when Saudi Arabia allows it, as they only accept fully vaccinated travellers.
“You also won’t be able to dine in at restaurants with your family or pray at a mosque,” said Ismail Sabri.
The Prime Minister added that civil servants do not have much choice but to get vaccinated or face internal action.
“So even though it is not mandatory, I implore unvaccinated people to get their jabs. It is our responsibility to protect the people around us,” he said.
Currently, 4.9% of adults in the country are unvaccinated.
Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said RM127mil has been put aside by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to replace all the lifts at 67 public housing projects in KL.
“Broken lifts are the biggest problem affecting residents living in public housing.
“It becomes a problem when there is a water shortage and people have to carry water up flights of stairs.
“If there is a death, people have to carry the body down the stairs from a high floor.
“So replacing old lifts is a priority and we hope to start work as soon as January,” he said.
At the Seri Perak flats, Ismail Sabri also said the government has agreed to replace its old electrical wiring system and conduct various other repairs and upgrading works.
Also present at Ismail Sabri’s visit was Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim.