Ministers, deputies and aides ordered to attend MACC briefing tomorrow

TELUK INTAN: All ministers, deputy ministers as well as their officers are required to attend a special briefing by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) at the commission’s Putrajaya headquarters tomorrow.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Salahuddin Ayub said the directive was issued by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said the briefing was not just a speech from the MACC to cabinet members, but a serious bid to tackle corruption.

“On Tuesday, the prime minister has made it compulsory for all ministers and their deputies, political secretaries as well as private secretaries to attend the MACC briefing.

“This is not a regular briefing. It begins at 9.30am and will end at 5.30pm. Its agenda isn’t just towards reminding us not to get involved in corruption.

“I feel it will also provide guidelines on how ministers can use the full extent of their powers to help combat corruption to the very core,” he said.

He was speaking at a dialogue with farmers, livestock breeders and fishermen from the Pasir Salak parliamentary constituency at Arena Square, Chenderong Balai, Sungai Manik, yesterday.

Salahuddin said while he himself was uncertain about the overall purpose of the briefing, he did not discount the possibility that there might be some exposes on corruption involving ministries.

“If the briefing highlighted files on corruption cases involving staff of my ministry, I will not compromise and those responsible will be held accountable for their actions.

“In the cabinet meeting, the prime minister had also reminded us (ministers) to be bolder and faster in ensuring that the government administration is free of corruption,” he said.

Later, Salahuddin said the briefing was the first since the cabinet’s formation. He believed that there was a possibility that several instructions would be issued on how to tackle corruption within the administration.

Commenting on a case involving the arrest over the misappropriation of fertiliser at a rice factory in Muar, Johor, last Friday, Salahuddin said his ministry was ready to cooperate with MACC to tackle corruption.

Last Friday, a 38-year-old man was arrested by MACC over suspicion of misappropriation of fertiliser supplied by the National Farmers Association via a government contract through the Federal Padi Fertiliser Scheme.

A total of 3,390 bags of fertiliser valued at RM180,534 were also seized.