The PKR disciplinary committee will discuss the matter of its party’s Youth leader Adam Rosly Abdullah, who was charged yesterday with giving false statements and documents to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said PKR deputy president Mohamed Azmin Ali.

“That matter (Adam) will be discussed at the disciplinary committee, it is a normal process,” Azmin told reporters after attending an event in Ampang today.

He said it would not be fair for the party to jump to conclusions as Adam was only charged yesterday and the trial has not started yet.

“A person is innocent until he is proven otherwise. He should be given a fair trial and the opportunity to defend himself,” Azmin said.

Adam, who is the Ampang PKR division Youth head, was charged with giving two false statements to two MACC investigating officers pertaining his alleged extraordinary wealth.

Among others, they concerned his employment as a businessman and income, as well as on his purchase of luxury cars, a bungalow worth RM1.2 million in Kampung Melayu Ampang which he paid for in cash, loans of RM200,000 from his mother-in-law and grandmother, and RM500,000 from ‘Ah Long’ (loan sharks).

He was also charged with using false documents with intention to deceive the MACC officers.

The charges were made under Section 89 of the Anti-Money-Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, which provides for a fine of up to RM3 million or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, if found guilty.

‘Act 355 amendments have to be more holistic’

On a separate issue, Azmin said that the proposed amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355) have to be more holistic, as said by jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Azmin said this in response to a question about Sabah and Sarawak PKR reacting negatively to Anwar's remarks about respecting the rights of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to table the amendments to Act 355.

“What was said by Anwar was crystal-clear, that in principle we should support the initiative to empower the Syariah Courts, but we have to look in totality.

“Not only in terms of the punishment but the whole infrastructure of the court and the proceedings. The judges must be competent, the infrastructure must be in place, enough funding must be given to that institution,” he said.

These details need to be ironed out by a select committee of scholars and experts on the issue first, he said, before PKR can conclude on this matter.

The proposed amendments to Act 355 seeks to increase the maximum punishment the Syariah Courts can mete out.

It was tabled on the last day of the previous parliamentary sitting but the debate on the bill was postponed by Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.