MACC not targeting police in crackdown, advisory board says

Board chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim said that the fight was against corruption in government, business and politics.

"The Advisory Board wish to emphasise that MACC is not against the police; it is like most of the rest of us against corruption in national life," he said in a statement today.

Tunku Abdul Aziz said that the board at its monthly meeting on May 29, here, gave its support to the ongoing MACC crackdown on police officers who were suspected to be protecting operators of illegal gambling and vice dens.

He said the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board expects similar crackdowns in other parts of the country where such illegal activities has been reported to be rampant, while it also fully encouraged MACC to extend their investigations to the highest level of the police hierarchy, without fear or favour.

Tunku Abdul Aziz also urged the public who are aware of partnerships in crime between law enforcement officers and operators of illegal gambling and vice dens to report what they know to the MACC.

He added that while there may be some bad apples in the force, there are thousands of other men and women in blue who are carrying out their duties in strict observance of their oath of service in public interest.

"The overwhelming majority in the police service is outraged by the action of their corrupt brother officers and are ashamed of belonging to a service whose reputation has been irreversibly damaged by the corrupt few. To those of them who remain steadfast in rejecting corruption, we owe them our gratitude," he said.

He said the Board also expressed appreciation to the Chief Justice for taking a keen personal interest in ensuring corruption cases are handled as expeditiously as possible, with due care and attention.