The case of MACC's curious Para 3

As expected, the Attorney-General Chamber has thrown back to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) its investigation papers on SRC International and the RM2.6 billion donation. The AG has asked for further clarifications and that the MACC resubmits the two papers ASAP. 

If you think AG Apandi Ali is trying to be difficult here, you are absolutely right. Gani Patail, when he was AG, sent back to the cops and anti-graft boys so many of their papers so regularly that even the top brass of the PDRM and MACC were known to have cursed him (behind his back, as far as I know) for being difficult. 

But did the AG do it on purpose? No. Gani often reminded me that his job was to make sure that the MACC and the PDRM would go to court with a very strong case. Despite all that, it didn't always end well for the prosecution. 

We must remember that Gani never had to deal with a case involving a sitting Prime Minister. He served three PMs in his day.

Apandi, on the other hand, is saddled with this responsibility from the the word go. We are talking about the country's numero uno here. Naturally, the AG would want the MACC to be meticulous. If he's being difficult with the MACC, it's because it is his job to to ensure that the MACC knows what it is doing. 

And do the people at the MACC know what they are doing? After reading the three-para statement which they sent out to the Press late Monday, I'm curious. For all good intents and purposes, it should have been a two-para statement. 

The third paragraph was rather odd.

Unless you wanted people to have access to that exact bit of information!

It's Comms 101, ladies and gentlemen. 

And true enough. The third para is the one that is forming yet another negative perception against the Prime Minister in the minds of some people. Read AG and MACC Chief are playing musical chairs, by Malaysiakini 20 Jan. 

Read also:

AG kicks probe back to MACC, Malay Mail Online