PETALING JAYA: An anti-graft association expressed concern today that the High Court’s decision to discharge Tengku Adnan Mansor over a RM1 million corruption charge could impact the country’s future rating in the corruption perception index.
Transparency International-Malaysia president Muhammad Mohan said he was taken “by surprise” after the Kuala Lumpur High Court granted the former federal territories minister a discharge not amounting to acquittal.
“TI-Malaysia is however deeply concerned on the public perception and how this will affect Malaysia’s future rating in the Corruption Perception Index.
“In 2019 Malaysia made a dramatic recovery in the CPI score after investigating high profile cases and those involved were charged,” he said in a statement.
Muhammad, however, urged everyone to remain calm and allow the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission space to dig deeper into the case before submitting to the attorney-general.
“We must follow the rule of law.”
Earlier today, High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali granted the order when the prosecution told the court that it did not wish to proceed with the case against Tengku Adnan due to some “new developments”.
The charge against Tengku Adnan, popularly known as Ku Nan, was that he allegedly receiving RM1 million from businessman Tan Eng Boon to approve an application by Nucleus Properties Sdn Bhd (now known as Paragon City Development Sdn Bhd) to increase the industrial plot ratio of a piece of land on Jalan Semarak.
Previously, the High Court had fined Tan RM1.5 million after he pleaded guilty to a charge of abetting Ku Nan in receiving a RM1 million bribe.