MACC: Do not politicise corruption

(Malaysian Digest) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has urged the people against politicising corruption by going to the media or blogs with their allegations before lodging reports with the MACC as the next general election draws near. 

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed said today that going by experience, the MACC would get many reports of corruption when the election season sets in. 

Many of these reports and information would be politically motivated, he told reporters after delivering a talk on integrity in the service in conjunction with the 750th anniversary of Melaka’s founding, here. 

Abu Kassim said a characteristic of politicising corruption was the act of going to the media or blogs first and then lodging a report with the MACC. 

“This makes it difficult for us to gather evidence. Once the allegations are highlighted (in the media), the crucial witnesses and evidence would go missing before the MACC begins its probe,” he said.
 
Abu Kassim also said that public servants were more aware of corruption now, and attributed this to the rise in the number of arrests of bribe givers over the last two years.  

He said many public servants had come forward to lodge reports against individuals who wanted to bribe them.  

“Countries see their efforts (against corruption) achieving results when there is a rise in the number of government officers acting against those offering bribes,” he added.