MACC: Give us info on illegal activities in Camerons

KUANTAN: The public has been asked to provide information on anyone suspected to have offered bribes to the authorities to clear land illegally in Cameron Highlands, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Its deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Mustafar Ali said his officers were gathering evidence on the allegations of rampant land-clearing activities at the highlands.

“It is clear that a person is innocent until proven guilty. Give us the information and we will do our job in a free, transparent and professional manner.

“These informants will be protected under the MACC Act 2009 and Whistleblowers Act 2010,” he said after attending a briefing and dialogue session with the Pahang Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry here yesterday.

Mustafar said the MACC would investigate all corruption cases without fear or favour.

“Thorough investigations will be carried out on everyone, be they high-ranking government officers, politicians or corporate leaders.

“For example, I led a team to bring in a former Selangor mentri besar in the wee hours of the day for investigations and I was present with the Attorney-General when the person was charged in court.

“There is no such thing as ikan bilis or jerung (a small fry or big fish). We will act on existing laws,” he added.

He said another example of the MACC operations was the case of a person who had offered RM20,000 to an officer in a land office to clear land illegally. The person was later charged in court.

Mustafar said the Pahang government had been pro-active in adopting some of the 12 recommendations submitted by the MACC to enhance its administration.

He said the MACC would also work closely with other agencies such as the land office, police, Immigration Department and Environment Department to address the problems in the highlands.

“We will look at the existing system and procedures which could lead to elements of corruption and improve it from there,” said Mustafar.

He said the MACC would also step up efforts on prevention and persuasion methods, as well as engagement with all sectors in the society to curtail corrupt practices.

Pahang MACC director Zainul Darus said he could not comment on the investigations as they were on-going.

It is learnt that several teams of officers were already in the highlands to gather evidence of corrupt practices and were expected to interview officials from the district and land offices.