Govt open to RCI on corporate mafia issue

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has not ruled out setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to address the corporate mafia issue in the country.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government believes it should assess whether there is justification to expand the investigation, including identifying specific areas that require further scrutiny.

He said the government was not opposed to an RCI if there was a clear basis and need for a more comprehensive investigation, supported by solid facts.

"The government will continue to ensure that any allegations with a basis are investigated transparently.

"Appropriate action will also be taken in accordance with the law, regardless of the position or background of any party," he said in a written reply published on the Parliament website last night.

He was responding to a question from Khoo Poay Tiong (Pakatan Harapan-Kota Melaka) on the progress of investigations into the corporate mafia issue and the government's readiness to establish an RCI to address it.

Saifuddin said police, through Bukit Aman's Anti-Money Laundering Crime Investigation Team, launched Op Viking following information and intelligence relating to money laundering activities.

"An investigation paper was opened on Oct 14, 2025, under Section 4(1) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

"Police also detained several individuals, as well as froze and seized various assets believed to be linked to the activities under investigation," he said.

He said that as at Sept 25, 70 individuals had been called in to have their statements recorded.

Police had also frozen and seized eight properties, 11 vehicles, 417 Central Depository System accounts, 70 share trading accounts involving RM323.59 million and 404 bank accounts containing RM85.62 million, he added.

Yesterday, Muar member of parliament Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman questioned the government's failure to disclose the findings of its preliminary investigation into corporate mafia activities, despite the matter having been announced in February.

On Oct 20, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim gave an assurance that the government would not protect anyone involved in corporate mafia activities.

It was previously reported that the terms of reference for a special task force investigating alleged corporate mafia activities would be tabled at a Cabinet meeting.

Bukit Aman's anti-money laundering team had frozen RM4.3 billion and seized RM1 billion in assets linked to related investigations between late 2022 and September this year.