KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Sarawak are among the "gold mine states" for corruption cases post-Covid-19, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner.
Tan Sri Azam Baki said this is because after the pandemic, these states were among the fastest to recover economically.
“When there are many trade transactions, it is bound to induce corrupt practices,” he said during a media engagement session at a hotel here on Thursday (April 10).
The tourism sector, Pan Borneo Highway, infrastructure and power plant projects picked up after the pandemic with procurement and tendering processes conducted and job opportunities opening up, he said.
Azam said this was why the MACC placed Sabah in particular as a top priority for monitoring.
“So if the MACC in Sabah is quiet for a month or so, I will start asking the director here what is going on,” he said.
Azam said the rapid economic movement indirectly paved the way for abuses such as smuggling, leakages, corruption and other forms of misconduct.
Local authorities, government departments and agencies are also at risk of getting involved in illegal practices as opportunists could strike anytime and anywhere, he added.
When this happens, those paying for these crimes are the people, who are supposed to be enjoying the welfare, infrastructure and development brought about by the government, he stressed.
Azam also pointed out that the agency cannot act on public opinion or political party interference.
“You have to trust the MACC, as well as other enforcement agencies, as independent agencies. We are responsible for carrying out fair and impartial probes,” he said, adding that investigations are conducted with the ultimate aim of having a positive impact on the community.
