MACC boss blames enforcement agencies for graft

KUALA LUMPUR: Enforcement agencies are to blame for persistent corruption in Malaysia, said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad.

“The reason corruption and abuse of power still exists and is flourishing is because enforcement agencies have failed to discharge their duties diligently,” he said during a dialogue with senators at the Parliament building yesterday.

As such, he urged the senators to declare corruption and abuse of power “public enemy number one”.

“We need the full support of all parties to address this national threat,” he added.

Dzulkifli said that most of the issues affecting the country including drugs, leakages in national income, illegal immigration and border control stem from the weakness of enforcement personnel.

He added that cases of corruption in Malaysia lowers its standing in the eyes of the world.

Recently, scores of enforcement agencies’ personnel, including policemen, firemen, Immigration and local council officers were rounded up by the MACC over corruption and abuse of power.

Some of them have been charged in court and many more have been placed under close watch by the anti-graft body.

Dzulkifli, who became chief commissioner in July 2016, has vowed to make anti-corruption a national agenda, promising that an anti-corruption arrest or prosecution happens every week.

Several high profile suspects have been arrested and charged since Dzulkifli took over.

In February, former rural and regional development ministry secretary-general Mohd Arif Ab Rahman and his son were charged with corruption.

Johor exco member Abd Latiff Bandi was arrested and released on bail pending a graft probe involving a bumiputra land scandal.