MACC free to investigate any govt agency, says Home Minister

SHAH ALAM: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is free to investigate any government agency without any interference, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The Home Minister said that the government is strongly committed to weeding out corruption at all levels.

"We (at the Home Ministry) are open 24 hours a day and that is our commitment and openness in our effort to overcome the problem of corruption. This (commitment) must happen at all levels,” said Saifuddin.

Speaking to reporters after attending the Home Ministry Iftar Madani event at the Selangor police headquarters on Tuesday (March 28), he said the Prime Minister had stated on his first day in office that the government will focus on economic structuring, guaranteeing social justice and governance.

"So, respecting and recognising the role of enforcement agencies such as the MACC will remain my position as long as I lead the ministry," he said.

Saifuddin added that if anyone has evidence of corruption, the correct process is to make a report with the MACC, saying that the commission must carry out its tasks without any disturbance or restriction at any level.

"That shows our transparency and openness," he said.

Saifuddin was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's directive to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) to consider the setting-up of an independent complaints mechanism against enforcement agencies.

Anwar said this when answering a supplementary question raised by Gobind Singh Deo (PH-Damansara) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (March 28).

Anwar said he agreed with Gobind that there should be an independent body to investigate enforcement agencies, which was a call made by Pakatan Harapan when serving as the Opposition.