Allow MACC to screen election candidates, all parties urged

PETALING JAYA: All political parties should allow the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) to screen their election candidates, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.

“If political parties are determined to ensure that their parties are free from corruption and have integrity, then they must walk their talk by allowing the MACC to screen their candidates.

“This will ensure that no candidates will be arrested and charged in court after winning their seats, which is a waste of time and money when a re-election has to be called,” Lee told The Star.

Last Tuesday, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said that Barisan Nasional was the only political coalition that had submitted its election candidates list to the MACC for vetting.

The president of PKR, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, made clear that Pakatan Harapan does not intend to submit its election candidates list to MACC.

She claimed that the MACC’s vetting may be a “political ploy” as it was quick to single out the Opposition through selective prosecution.

However, when asked if MACC’s strict enforcement would only ben- efit certain political parties, Lee said that assumptions and accusations cannot be made.

“We must allow the MACC to carry out its job without fear or favour. Let them work effectively and achieve the desired results,” he said.

He praised the MACC’s efforts to draw up a list of programmes to get the public more involved in the fight against corruption.

“MACC must bring the war against corruption to the ground and educate the people on its negative effects.

“More awareness campaigns must be held so that the public will continue to become the eyes and ears for the agency.

“Innovative efforts such as using the various modes of public transport to reach out to the public and enlist their participation in the war against corruption are indeed essential,” he stressed.

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