‘MACC can probe for evidence classified under OSA’
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) can obtain any information for investigative purposes, even if evidence it is looking for are classifiedunder the Official Secrets Act 1972.
Its deputy chief commissioner (operations), Datuk Seri Azam Baki, told the New Straits Times that MACC was empowered by the government to take action and investigate graft cases or complaints.
He was asked to respond to the statement made by a law firm representing former Malaysian External Investigation Organisation chief Datuk Hasanah Abdul Hamid, her deputy and six others from the same division, who were arrested to facilitate investigations into an alleged misappropriation of US$12 million (RM49 million) of 14th General Election funds.
The firm, Azam Aziz Shaharudinali & Co, on Thursday, criticised MACC for sharing with the media that US$6.3 million seized in relation to the case was from the Middle East and that its client might have knowledge of it.
The firm said the matter was confidential.
It claimed that it had been denied access to information on the investigation as it could interefere with the probe.
Azam said MACC was unperturbed and that the firm could take the matter to court if it had any issues with the commission.
“We are just doing our job.” He told the firm that should Hasanah have any information concerning national interest, she was better off sharing it with the commission instead of her lawyers.
Asked about the suit threatened by the firm against MACC, Azam said it was up to the former to do so.
NST on Thursday revealed that the authorities had strong grounds to believe that the alleged misappropriation of the US$12 million was linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd.