Ready to serve: Azam (second from right) inspecting the guard of honour during the closing ceremony at the end of training for assistant enforcement officers at Johor MACC headquarters in Johor Baru. — THOMAS YONG/The Star
JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is prepared to investigate political leaders if there are complaints and evidence of misconduct against them, says its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.
He said the investigation by the anti-graft body was fair and conducted in a transparent manner based on evidence that had been collected.
“In investigating a crime involving any political party, the important thing is that we have to make sure whether the party in question has committed a corrupt act or not,” he said.
For instance, he said MACC would probe a corruption case if a party had used its power to benefit themselves or others.
“Therefore, any party that we investigate must have the element of corruption present in the submitted complaint,” he told reporters after closing a training session for assistant enforcement officers at the Johor MACC headquarters here yesterday.
As an example, Azam said it would not be deemed an offence for a party to accept a contribution from someone if it had no self-interest or power vested in it.
He was asked to comment on Bersatu president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s remarks that the MACC should investigate both Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Muhyiddin threw the dare at MACC on Sunday during Bersatu AGM, saying that these two leaders of PKR and Umno should be investigated over allegations of funds received from businessmen.
