The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has rejected claims by James Chai, former aide to ex-minister Rafizi Ramli, that he was being unfairly targeted.
In a statement, the MACC said Chai’s allegations were inaccurate and misleading, creating a false public impression of its investigation procedures. “The suggestion that the MACC press conference was conducted solely to target Chai is completely baseless,” it said, noting that the briefing was part of its regular monthly updates on ongoing investigations.
These investigations include Op Middlemen, concerning illegal e-waste linked to the Department of Environment; Op Heart, related to IJM; and Op Godfather, involving Toh Puan Nai’mah Ab Khalid.
The commission clarified that issuing a Notice to Trace a witness is a standard investigative step, carried out only after repeated attempts to contact the individual via phone, visits to their last known address, or other reasonable methods. “A Notice to Trace does not constitute a criminal accusation; it is simply a procedure to locate individuals needed for an investigation,” the MACC said.
In Chai’s case, the commission said its investigating officer had made multiple attempts to reach him in the UK starting February 24, including messages via WhatsApp. When no response was received, the officer’s number was blocked by Chai on February 26.
The MACC emphasised that 12 other individuals, including a federal minister, had already cooperated fully. “If Chai has nothing to hide, he should come forward and assist with the investigation,” it added.
The agency concluded that attempts to portray standard procedures as persecution are unfounded and in bad faith, reaffirming that no one is above the law and that its professional, evidence-based investigations will continue. Individuals called to assist are urged to cooperate fully and avoid creating misleading narratives.
