MACC reaffirms stand to stop graft, urges people to follow suit

KUALA KLAWANG: The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) has again appealed to the people to stop giving bribes as it ups the ante in its fight against graft.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad (pic) said with a staff of 1,900, there was only so much it could do to check corruption.

“We cannot fight corruption alone and monitor the 1.6 millionstrong civil service.

“Every Malaysian must help us by not offering bribes in the first place,” he said at the Ziarah Kasih programme at SMK Teriang Hilir in Simpang Durian near here.

About 5,000 residents from the Jelebu parliamentary constituency attended the event organised by the MACC to get closer to the people.

“I have brought all my directors from Perlis to Sabah to attend these programmes as I want the people to know that the MACC is here to help you.

“We need to make sure that what ever allocations given to you will not get lost in the process,” he said.

Dzulkifli said the MACC belonged to the people and they should file reports if they come across corrupt individuals.

“We should also learn to say no to anyone who solicits for a bribe. When you do not give bribes, there will be no corruption.

“The Malays should say tidak to corruption, the Chinese pu yau and the Tamils vendam, which all mean ‘no’,” he said.

On another matter, he said the MACC would reopen investigations into Darul Ehsan Investment Group (DEIG) if there was new information on alleged corruption or power abuse.

“We need to see if there is any new information before reopening the case. We must have strong reasons for that,” he said.

Yesterday, a group of Selangor Umno Youth members urged the authorities to probe how DEIG, a company with paidup capital of RM2, was given projects worth RM10bil to develop stateowned lands.

They claimed that DEIG was established in June 2015, but a month later, issued a statement that it would carry out a project worth about RM10bil with Menteri Besar Incorporated.

“I have just been informed about the DEIG case and will need time before we can decide on the next course of action,” said Dzulkifli.

In 2015, the commission cleared DEIG of breaching any laws under the MACC Act 2009.