‘I want to put fear in those involved in graft’
> MACC chief vows to charge someone every week
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad (pix) has said that more people will face charges every week in an effort to reign in those involved in corrupt practices.
Dzulkifli said he would throw the book at those involved if he had to, irrespective of who was being charged.
“I want to put fear in those involved in corrupt practices, MACC has been consistent on this,” he said during a dialogue with the Umno Overseas Students Bureau in conjunction with the Millennials Empowerment Summit 2017 (MES) yesterday.
He also expressed concern regarding the results of a survey conducted by MACC, where 18% of 1,000 university students polled said they would accept bribes if offered.
Dzulkifli hoped that educational programmes organised by MACC would help change the younger generation’s perception regarding such corrupt practices.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said equal focus on aspects of an investigation and prosecution should be given to bribe givers as much as the receivers in order to eradicate such crimes.
He said it was unfair if the investigation, prosecution and punishment were only meted out on the receivers.
“We should have a balanced opinion on the giver and receiver. We also frequently see that the bribe receivers are linked to the public sector or government officials who are charged after an investigation is carried out and punishment meted,” he said when officiating at MES.
He said corruption is a “two-way transaction” and the public should not judge a corruption probe, before a verdict is established. “We have to look into the giver and receiver equally. The receiver is regularly associated with the civil service.
“But the worst part is, these civil servants have already been judged by the court on perception even before a formal investigation is done or punishment is given,” Ahmad Zahid said.
He added the government supported the proposal by MACC to look at the involvement of the private sector, corporate bodies and individuals, especially entrepreneurs, who offered bribes to facilitate their business transactions with government agencies and departments.
“Some of these methods, allegedly to smoothen transactions, must be given proper attention.”
He also urged authorities to initiate prosecution processes and take action on specific cases based on the outcome of investigations, including through intelligent information and not purely on reports.
“Do not only listen to hearsay or any report in the media or online as well as the allegations hurled, which prompted action to be taken,” he said.
Ahmad Zahid also urged corporate bodies and the private sector to take up the Corruption Free Pledge as carried out by the ministries, agencies and government departments.
He also commended MACC on its role in improving Malaysia’s position in the Corruption Perception Index to 55th out of 176 countries last year.