Abu Kassim vows to restore MACC’s credibility
(The Star) – Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammed has vowed to boost the credibility of the organisation when he takes over the top post from Jan 1.
Abu Kassim, 48, said he would come up with some plans to improve the public’s perception of the organisation.
“I need the support from all sectors of the society including non-governmental organisations. Without this, the MACC can’t excel,” he said after attending the ‘Integrity As Development’ conference organised by the state government at the Hard Rock Hotel here Saturday.
Abu Kassim said the most important thing for the MACC in future was to make friends with everyone.
“We need to gain the support and confidence of the society, if not, MACC can fail,” he said.
Abu Kassim said the MACC had to be effective, consistent and fair.
“We also need to be more transparent,” he said.
He said there was problem of public perception that the MACC was inconsistent when undertaking its tasks.
“We believe we are (consistent) but there is a perception that we’re not. We feel that we’re fair but there’s also perception that we’re not.
“So, we have to absorb it (the criticisms),” he said.
He explained that there were 42 commission appointees in the five panels in the MACC – Advisory Board, Special Committee, the Corruption Consultation and Prevention Panel, Complaints Committee and the Operation Review Panel.
This, he said was to ensure transparency.
He said the MACC must heed the advice given by the Advisory Board.
“The board submits an annual report to the Parliament. If we disobey them, we will come under Parliamentary scrutiny,” he said.
On MACC’s investigation of a senior minister’s political secretary who had amassed millions of ringgit in properties over a short period of time, Abu Kassim said he could not comment under the law.
Among those present at the function were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Kelantan Mentri Besar Datuk Niz Aziz Nik Mat, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and former Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin.
