PUTRAJAYA (Sept 18): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said on Wednesday that Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir and his brother Mirzan Mahathir have declared their assets to the commission under the latest deadline.
Investigations on the declared assets have already begun and the commission's investigators are currently in communication with the men's lawyers for further coordination, said MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
"They have already made the asset declaration to us,” he said at a press conference. “However, our investigating officers are making engagements with their lawyers.”
MACC had given the two sons of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a final one-month extension to declare their assets in August, following at least three prior extensions.
Mokhzani and Mirzan had asked for more time as MACC had demanded information on all movable and immovable assets in their possession stretching back to 1981 when their father Mahathir first became Malaysia's prime minister.
Both of them were called up for questioning by the MACC in January, although it was not clear then what the investigation was about. Azam later confirmed that it was Mahathir who was the subject of the MACC investigation, and that orders issued to his sons to declare their assets were related to it.
Mahathir claimed that the MACC had accused him of abusing power for personal gain.
The alleged offence is under Section 23 of the MACC Act, which stipulates that it is an offence to use an office or position for gratification, and a person convicted of such an offence is liable to face a jail term of 20 years and a fine of five times the gratification.
In May, Mokhzani stepped down as the non-executive chairman of Maxis Bhd (KL:MAXIS), effective from June 30, after 15 years sitting on the board of the company. He served as a director of Maxis since its relisting on Bursa Malaysia in 2009, and as the chairman of the board since April 22, 2021.
His elder brother Mirzan is currently the substantial shareholder and managing director of Betamek Bhd (KL:BETA). He is also currently founder and chief executive officer of alternative investment firm Crescent Capital Sdn Bhd.