MACC to station officers in Cameron Highlands to monitor corruption

KUALALUMPUR: TheMalaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will station its officers in the Cameron Highlands to tighten surveillance and monitor corruption to combat the problem holistically.

The move was made following MACC checks conducted since May last year which found there was no specific and systematic centre for the public to submit complaints effectively on illegal land-clearing activities and corruption.

Its deputy chief commissioner (operations), Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull said while waiting for government approval on the posting of permanent officers, the MACC would station officers there temporarily as soon as possible.

"The MACC has decided to station its officers i n the Cameron Highlands to tighten surveillance.

"People with information can pass it to MACC and provide support on the serious issue in the area," he said in a statement here yesterday.

Mohd Shukri said although the MACC received complaints and information from time to time, it had a problem with inadequate evidence.

"The MACC, through its inspection and consultancy division, has conducted checks to determine the cause of the issue in the Cameron Highlands," he added.

On November 5, a mudslide occurred in Ringlet and Lembah Bertam, Cameron Highlands - believed to have been partly contributed by illegal landclearing activities - resulting in the death of five people. Five others were injured.

Mohd Shukri said: "The MACC has taken a corruption case in Cameron Highlands to court, and last year, it charged the people who illegally cleared land and tried to bribe an officer at the Land and District Office in Cameron Highlands." – Bernama