Stop shooting us from behind says MACC chief

"I say to politicians from all parties...don't shoot the MACC from behind. The MACC is the army to fight corruption. If you shoot us from behind, who could our society ask for help against corruption?," Abu Kassim asked.

He was speaking at a dinner in conjunction with World Anti-Corruption Day at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here last night.

Abu Kassim said MACC, previously known as the Anti-Corruption Agency, together with its counterparts in Hong Kong and Singapore, were actually the oldest such bodies in the world whose work had won international recognition, especially from the United Nations.

He said, before 1990, there were only 20 anti-corruption bodies worldwide but currently, the number had swelled to 150, reflecting the growing awareness on the importance of fighting the scourge.

The chief commissioner said the inclusion of five panels comprising 42 personalities from various professions in the MACC set-up since 2009, had ensured that investigations into corruption cases were carried out independently and without fear or favour.

He cited as an example, the Special Committee on Corruption made up of six members of parliament and a senator, including three from the opposition.

"I salute the members of all these five panels for the work they have done in ensuring that we leave no stone unturned in our investigations. But despite this, we're still accused of selective investigations.

"I would like to give an assurance, once again, that with the MACC being closely scrutinised by these panels, there's no way that this is possible," he added.

Abu Kassim said, it was very much in the interest of any civil society that abhorred corruption, not to allow bodies like the MACC to be "insulted and pressured" by any quarters.

He said it was also in society's interest to lobby for outdated laws against corruption to be repealed, instead of blaming the MACC for inaction as the MACC could only act within the ambit of the law. In this regard, he spoke of the law that allowed people who were close relatives of public officials like ministers, to apply for land or logging concessions. Under this law, no offence would be committed if a minister had declared his interest in the application, prior to its approval.

"The public should support a law that says, there is a total 'No' when it comes to close relatives of minister involved in the decision-making process," he said.

He noted that everyone must play their part in making the MACC much stronger in the fight against corruption.

Abu Kassim said the MACC no longer relied totally on public information or report before acting against allegations of corruption but instead, had its officers doing undercover and intelligence work, as well.