MACC must remain impartial, says Kit Siang

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must not be a political tool of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government to harass and persecute opposition leaders on questionable grounds, Lim Kit Siang said yesterday.

The anti-graft body must not be tainted by partisan politics in its war against corruption, he said, adding that this is the political philosophy that former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak would never understand.

On Umno president Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi being summoned by MACC, Lim said the commission must not act as the government’s instrument of repression and persecution.

“PH does not want MACC to continue its role as an instrument of the government against the Opposition as it was during the Najib era,” Lim said in a statement.

“If Zahid is a victim of persecution and repression as happened to PH leaders under the previous administration, I am prepared to speak up for him. But if Zahid is hauled up by MACC (in the course) of its genuine anti-corruption agenda, that would be a separate matter.”

The Iskandar Puteri MP said Malaysia is now on the mend to restore the integrity, professionalism, independence and impartiality of key national institutions, including MACC.

He said MACC must regain national and international respect as an anti-corruption commission of a leading nation of integrity and not that of a global kleptocracy.