Kuala lumpur: Former Johor Bahru Member of Parliament Tan Sri Shahrir Abdul Samad testified in the High Court today, asserting that his lawsuit against former Attorney General Tan Sri Tommy Thomas, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Latheefa Koya, the MACC, and the government is not an act of revenge but a measure to ensure the proper exercise of enforcement powers.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Shahrir, 76, emphasized the importance of thorough investigations before utilizing the powers to investigate, seize, arrest, and prosecute. "It is not for revenge," he stated. "Those powers must be exercised only after the fundamental aspects have been properly investigated."
The former Felda chairman acknowledged that anyone, including himself, could be subject to investigation if valid grounds exist. However, he stressed that investigations must be comprehensive and fair prior to any arrest or charge with a serious offence.
Shahrir faced charges in the Sessions Court in January 2020 for allegedly failing to declare RM1 million received from former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the Inland Revenue Board. The case was later moved to the High Court, where Shahrir was acquitted on January 5, 2023, after the prosecution decided not to proceed.
The prosecution's decision, Shahrir noted, came after MACC investigating officer Nurzahidah Yacop testified that she had not determined whether the RM1 million was reimbursement or income. "The charge against me hinged on the allegation that the RM1 million was income I failed to declare. If it had not yet been determined whether it was income or a reimbursement, the fundamental basis of the charge remained unresolved, yet I was dragged to court," he explained.
He maintained that the RM1 million was a reimbursement from Najib for personal savings he had used to fund the restoration of Puri Langkasuka. Shahrir recounted a late 2013 meeting with Najib to discuss the project's issues and seek reimbursement. Najib, he claimed, provided a RM1 million cheque as a reimbursement for the restoration efforts.
The trial, presided over by Judge Gan Techiong, is set to continue on September 4. Shahrir is represented by lawyers Datuk Firoz Hussein Ahmad Jamaluddin and Datuk Syed Faisal Al-Edros Syed Abdullah Al-Edros. The defense team for Thomas includes lawyers Alan Adrian Gomez and Haikaldin Mahyiddin, while the other defendants are represented by Senior Federal Counsel Liew Horng Bin and Zureen Elina Mohd Dom.