MACC: We never ask for personal details over the phone

SEREMBAN: Members of the public should never give out their personal details even if the callers claim to be officers with the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC).

State MACC chief Hairuzam Mohmad Amin said it was the standard operating procedure for the anti-graft body to summon any individual to assist in a probe to its office.

“We do not ask for personal details such as identity card over the phone.

“Only scammers do that,” he said after assuming duties as the new state chief from Ramli Ismail, who has been made Kelantan MACC director.

The handing over ceremony was witnessed by MACC deputy chief commissioner (professional and management) Datuk Ja’afar Mahad.

Hairuzam urged the public to be more vigilant and not fall for such scams.

On a separate matter, he said they had not received any reports in relation to power abuse and corruption in last Saturday’s state PKR polls.

Results for the state polls have yet to be made official due to technical problems during voting.

Earlier, Ramli said 50 investigation papers and 68 arrests were made during his tenure from Jan 16 last year up to last month.

He said their campaigns to encourage members of the public to report corruption cases, especially those who offered bribes, had been effective with 20 of the 38 people detained in the first nine months of this year being civilians.

“Only 18 were civil servants. So far, 14 cases have been taken to court,” he said.