WITH THE MEDIA: Abu Kassim with the members of the media during a press conference at Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission office in Putrajaya. — Bernama photo
PUTRAJAYA: With the 13th general election around the corner, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) expects to get more reports and information than before the last general election, said its chief commissioner, Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed.
He said if past experiences were anything to go by, reports and information on alleged corruption would increase dramatically as elections draw nearer.
“Some complainants even recall old forgotten cases. For us, we accept all information and reports and if there are corrupt elements involved, we will conduct investigations, no matter who are being implicated,” he told a news conference here
yesterday.
The MACC registered the highest number of reports/information since 2003 in the 12th general election (2008) at 15,804 compared to 11,413 in the 11th general election (2004).
He said 208 of 603 people arrested in 2008 were charged in court after investigation papers on 1,390 people were opened while 178 of 497 people arrested in 2004 after 982 investigation papers were opened.
The MACC received 11,765 reports/information last year which resulted in 1,078 investigation papers opened with 350 out of 701 people arrested charged in court.
He said apart from the MACC, the police and the Election Commission were responsible in investigating corruption cases under the Election Commission Act.
“We propose the setting up of a coordination committee involving EC, MACC and the police because the police have branches throughout countries, including in remote areas, and they can receive corruption reports.
“We’ve have coordination from time to time. We hope it can be carried out more effectively,” he said. — Bernama