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THE Anti-Corruption Agency is to further probe the allocation of 5.5 million shares in two private companies to the son-in-law of the Minister for International Trade and Industry.

 The move follows months of controversy over shares in Leader Universal Holdings and First Allied Corporation allocated to Fazrin Azwar, son-in-law of Rafidah Aziz.

 And it was revealed by a Government official after a question in Parliament.

 Mohamed Nazri, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, denied the Attorney-General's Chambers had refused to prosecute Ms Rafidah even though the agency had completed its investigation.

 Instead it was felt further thorough investigation was necessary and the agency would then report for appropriate action, he said.

 The question, put by Lim Guan Eng of the Democratic Action Party, centred on allegations over 1.5 million shares in Leader Universal and four million in First Allied.

 Mr Nazri said double standards did not arise as a person would only be prosecuted on the basis of strong evidence in the case.

 He said the Anti-Corruption Agency was also investigating allegations that Mr Azwar had given his mother-in-law a luxury car from returns on the shares.

 'This matter is one of the aspects of further and thorough investigation by the [agency] as directed by the Attorney-General's Chambers,' Mr Nazri said.

  Ms Rafidah has defended the share allocation saying Mr Azwar would have received it even if he had not been her relative.

  And in Parliament last year, when the issue was first raised, she named the relatives of other politicians, including the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, who had received Leader Universal shares.

 Since 1987, the Government has sought to ensure a proportion of shares being issued goes to bumiputras - Malays and other indigenous peoples - in a bid to overcome inequalities in wealth distribution.



Probe over political links in share deal