We have been fair, says MACC
By Hamidah Atan, NST
Accusations by Pakatan Rakyat leaders that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is practising double standards is nothing new, senior commission officials said yesterday.
"This is normal of them. When the spotlight is on their leaders, they will stop at nothing to accuse us of double standards, selective prosecution and so on.
"To them, whatever we do or say is always not right," said a senior official who did not want to be named.
MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan's statement regarding investigations involving Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had drawn rebuke from Pakatan leaders.
Senior Selangor exco member Teresa Kok had alleged Khalid's case was politically motivated while Penang Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng had accused the MACC of being a political instrument acting only against Pakatan leaders and not Barisan Nasional leaders.
On Friday, Said had said in Penang the MACC had found evidence that Khalid had misused his powers over the maintenance of his personal car and purchase of 46 cows.
A news portal commentary described Said's statement as objectionable. It also questioned the MACC's especially fast investigation of the case.
Another official said Malaysians must not lose count of the number of reports and investigations carried out against Umno or BN politicians.
"We have always been fair. Although this can affect the government's image, a lot of government officers, including senior police officers and ministers, have been arrested and charged with bribery."
The officer also said it was the media which had asked Said a few questions pertaining to Khalid's case.
"He was merely answering their questions. Since becoming the ACA director-general in 2007, the media-friendly Datuk Seri (Ahmad Said) has never failed to answer all questions posed by reporters, regardless of the sensitivity of cases."
Under Section 29 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act the chief commissioner was empowered to expose whatever information deemed necessary to the public, the officer said,
"There were restrictions in the past but no more under the new act."
The opposition was silent when several Umno leaders were detained recently over alleged money politics.
"We do not pick and choose. Whoever commits corruption, we will come in, regardless of political parties or affiliations."
The officer said if leaders did not want to be in the papers for the wrong reasons, they must not be involved in corruption or abuse of power.
"It is as simple as that."
