KOTA SAMARAHAN: The exposès made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) involving government departments and agencies is proof enough that the graft busters do not only target “small fishes”.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said MACC's recent success in uncovering bribery scandals involving senior figures within the Sabah Water Department’s reflected the commission’s fairness in enforcing the law.
“The commission was previously hurled with accusations that it only took action against “ikan bilis” (small fishes). That perception, however, has changed with MACC’s recent success.
“It is not a question of whether the commission is taking action or otherwise. However, we need to understand the constraints faced by the commission especially in gathering sufficient documents to establish a substantial and strong case.
“Part and parcel of their success (in establishing a good case) also depends on the credibility of the civil servants of a government department in supplying enough documents for the MACC to initiate action against the offenders,” said Nancy in her speech during the closing ceremony of the Sarawak level Anti-Corruption Day here today.
Present was Sarawak MACC director Datuk Badrul Shah Norman.
A director and two former deputy directors were among 28 people arrested to facilitate MACC’s probe into the Sabah Water Department’s multi-million ringgit graft fiasco.
The graft busters recorded statements from more than 200 witnesses to assist investigations. The commission took a month to analyse 8,000 payment vouchers from 2008 to this year.