PKR’s Subang MP Sivarasa Rasiah believes former Malaysia Airlines System chairperson Tajudin Ramli may have a hold on “someone powerful in the government”, since no criminal charges have been preferred against him and he obtained a relatively lenient out-of-court settlement.

NONESpeaking at a press conference in Tropicana, Sivarasa (left) said this is despite the several police reports and a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission report against him by the senior management of MASKargo in 2007.

“Who is this person who is so powerful in the Malaysian government, in the cabinet probably, that Tajudin is able to squeeze so hard that he can do all this?” he asked.

“Two people who can start helping us answer this question are ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Idris Jala and Nazri Abdul Aziz, who has been in the news talking about the settlements,” he said.

Sivarasa said Idris could shed some light as he took over as MAS CEO in 2007 and had, according to the MASKargo MACC report, briefed the then-prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the alleged wrongdoings by Tajudin in the same year.

Bribery allegations

Referring to the report, which was purportedly lodged under instruction by MAS’ management, Sivarasa said Tajuddin was accused of “bribing” the police and the Attorney-General’s Chambers, resulting in no prosecution.

He added that the report, a copy of which was distributed to the press, also alleged that the then-Commercial Crimes Department (CCD) of the police force had found “prosecutable offences”.

In his report to MACC, then MASKargo manageing director Shahari Sulaiman said that then-CCD director Ramli Yusuff had “disclosed that various offences have been identified that are prosecutable”.

“The CCD director also assured the then-PM (Abdullah) that the CCD would also have qualified lawyers in its ranks who can act as prosecuting officers if the AG’s chambers was reluctant to prosecute these offences,” he said.

In December, Business Times reported that Shahari has gone on leave amidst a domestic inquiry since November 2011. It is unclear when he will return to duty.

Dr M's proxy?

PKR treasurer and Selayang MP William Leong said Tajuddin’s affidavit admitting that he had acted as proxy for then-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the purchase of MAS shares also warrants investigation.

He added that the recent the fact that the settlements were “shrouded in secrecy” also strengthens Tajuddin’s claim that he was indeed a proxy.

“If he was a proxy, who was then the real master who should be accountable for ruining he livelihood and economic future of tens of thousands of MAS employees?” he asked.

Tajuddin had recently reached an out-of-court settlement with Danaharta involving the RM589 million debt incurred by the former for his purchase of MAS shares.

Malaysiakini has contacted Tajuddin’s lawyer, Nazri and Idris for comment and is awaiting a reply.