KUALA LUMPUR: Companies found guilty of giving bribes are to be blacklisted and their names added to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) database of offenders.

This is in addition to MACC's existing database of over 900 individuals convicted of corrupt practices. Their names will remain on the list for three years from the date of conviction. The list will be constantly updated.

MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamad said at least two multinationals and a company belonging to a royal family would be on the second list.

He told The Star that a task force had been formed to prepare the list as soon as possible “which will be useful to people wishing to do business locally or internationally”.

He added: “We want all those involved in a project or business, especially government agencies and government-linked companies, to check both lists before making any deal.

“We are keen to ensure that everyone complies with the proper procedure in line with the United Nations guidelines and the Government's Transformation Programme.”

He also said the US Embassy here had informed MACC that it might not issue a visa to people in the database.

Like the database for individual offenders, the list of companies will have their profiles and case histories, including the charge, sentence, the court, trial judge, deputy public prosecutors and defence lawyers.

The Star had quoted MACC director of the legal and prosecution division, Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, as saying that people had complained that the database meant double punishment for offenders, to name and shame them.

He said the MACC's stand was that the public should be educated on how serious the offence of corruption is.

“We want to create awareness on the penalty they will face if they accept or offer bribes. There will be no receiver if there is no giver,” Abdul Razak said, adding that there was a misconception, especially among foreigners, that it was “the accepted custom” here to bribe to get anything done.

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