MACC may open more probe papers following Auditor-General’s Report
(Bernama) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is still studying the Auditor-General’s Report 2009 and does not dismiss the possibility of opening more investigation papers based on the report.
Its deputy chief commissioner (Operations) Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull said so far at least 15 investigation papers had been opened on issues raised in the report, including on the Defence Ministry spending on luxury items for the VVIP room, Mawilla 3, at the Royal Malaysian Navy base in Lumut and in Langkawi.
“Anything (in the report) that was linked to corruption, that did not follow specifications or involved false claims will be investigated,” he said after the launching of MACC’s Innovation Day 2010 here today by its chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed.
A newspaper report had quoted the Auditor-General’s Report as mentioning that the Defence Ministry had spent RM300,000 on buying luxury items for the VVIP room, including RM95,880 on wallpaper, by using an allocation from the First Economic Stimulus Package.
Mohd Shukri said a major part of the A-G’s Report had been investigated since a month ago based on information received from the public.
He said a number of individuals involved had also been called for investigation over the issues raised.
The MAAC had before this announced that it had opened 13 investigation papers, 14 preliminary investigation papers and five papers for examination and discussion in connection with the A-G’s Report.
Three of the investigation papers were opened in Johor, six at the MACC headquarters, two in Terengganu and one each in Sarawak and Selangor.
In his speech, Abu Kassim said innovation including in the system and procedures used by the MACC was important to solve corruption cases.
He said the MACC’s three main principles, namely independence, transparency and professionalism, should be the foundation for innovation in the agency in order to realise its vision of being a top enforcement agency in the region.
He said MACC officers had also been told to document the innovations made in the agency as they were invaluable reference material.
