The principles of integrity and law enforcement must be applied consistently to everyone regardless of position or political affiliation, said Penang Umno Youth chief Mohd Hilmi Elias.
He said investigations should not be used as a means of shaping political perceptions, stressing that being investigated or charged does not mean a person has been found guilty.
“An investigation is not a conviction. Being charged does not mean someone is guilty,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Mohd Hilmi said it would be more appropriate to focus on consistency, transparency and equal treatment in enforcement rather than using investigations as a tool to create political perceptions.
He added that Umno had never rejected investigations or law enforcement when reports, allegations or reasonable concerns required scrutiny by the authorities.
However, Mohd Hilmi said if PKR Youth (AMK) wanted to champion integrity and transparency, it should also consistently question the progress of several other issues that had attracted public attention.
Among them were the investigation into the Employees Provident Fund-related investment body KWAP’s investment in eFishery, share and public fund transactions, mining issues in Sabah, and the case involving former senior political secretary to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.
He also questioned the official status and findings surrounding the so-called “Corporate Mafia” issue and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) projects linked to actor and director Datuk Afdlin Shauki.
Mohd Hilmi said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had previously been reported to have found no criminal elements in the DBKL project issue, although governance weaknesses remained a concern.
“The question is, what governance weaknesses were identified and what corrective measures have been taken?” he said.
He also referred to businessman Nicky Liow’s case, saying any questions still troubling the public should be addressed based on facts, procedures and the law.
Mohd Hilmi stressed that political differences should not determine how integrity-related issues are treated.
“If AMK wants to question Umno in the name of integrity, that is their right. But integrity cannot be selective.
“Do not be vocal only when it involves political opponents while remaining silent when the same questions involve your own side or the government,” he said.
He said the same standards must be applied to everyone in law enforcement because justice should not have a political colour.
“If we truly want to champion integrity, let us judge everyone by the same measure.
“Do not spot the speck in someone else’s eye while ignoring the elephant in front of us,” he added.
This keeps the political criticism clearly attributed to Mohd Hilmi while avoiding presenting his allegations or comparisons as established facts.
