PUTRAJAYA: Suspects involved in corruption, embezzlement and abuse of power will undergo a polygraph test to assist the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation.
The polygraph test's accuracy can reach up to 97%, and it is believed to solve complex cases.
MACC has established a special team equipped with modern and sophisticated equipment. The team also undergoes special training to develop investigation techniques and methodologies in response to the increasingly complex corruption crimes in the digital age and globalisation.
As of last March, 16 MACC officers had successfully received certification as polygraph examiners after following various training modules that included criminal testing and a three-month screening process.
They also undergo theoretical and practical training conducted by five instructors from the United States and the United Kingdom.
This Accredited Polygraph Training was held for the first time in collaboration with the American Polygraph Association (APA), thus marking MACC's commitment to strengthening integrity and efforts to fight corruption in Malaysia through polygraph science.
In addition, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Academy (MACA) in Kuala Lumpur has been recommended as the hub of the training program. MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the team's establishment was the result of APA's collaboration with MACA officers, who were given exposure and training to strengthen their skills in handling polygraphs, thus empowering the success of the investigation.
"The use of the polygraph in the investigation is important. This technique can tell if the individual is cheating or otherwise following the result of the results reaching 97% accuracy," he recently said in an exclusive interview with Sinar Harian at the MACC Headquarters.
Meanwhile, Azam said that the pattern of corruption crimes nowadays is seen to be increasingly complex and cross-border, where criminals manipulate technology, including using virtual currencies such as bitcoin, Ethereum, and so on to hide financial traces.
"MACC is always sensitive to this aspect to ensure that officers are one step ahead of the changing pattern of corruption crimes," he said.
According to him, MACC has developed investigative techniques and methodologies such as Intelligence-Based Investigation (IBI).
"Not only that, we also send officers to improve their expertise in the use of technology and investigative knowledge through the cooperation of domestic and foreign agencies.
"The MACC Technology Forensic Division is also regularly trained to conduct forensics such as tracking financial and money laundering transactions, and since last year, we have been appointed as the leader of the Digital Forensic Working Group (KKFD)," he said.
He added that KKFD was formed from agencies with digital forensic laboratories, such as CyberSecurity Malaysia (CSM), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), Malaysian Prisons Department, Attorney General's Department (AGC), and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).
He said it is a platform to share knowledge, expertise, and best practices when conducting digital investigations.
According to Azam, strategic cooperation in combating financial corruption is done through the establishment of a Special Financial Crime Investigation Team by the Financial Analysis Division (BAK) of the MACC.
"This team is also joined by the National Audit Department of Malaysia (JANM), Accountant General of Malaysia (ANM), Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), Malaysian Institute of Accountants (MIA), Institute Malaysian Certified Secretary and Administrator (MAICSA) and Malaysian Multimedia University (MMU)," he said.
A LARGE SCALE CASE
Meanwhile, commenting on the enforcement sector, which is said to be one of the most vulnerable to corruption, Azam said that the MACC will focus on the matter involved in addition to finding the issue of large-scale corruption.
"Throughout 2024, the MACC has carried out four large-scale operations, namely Ops Samba involving smuggling activities at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) with the leakage of more than RM2bil over the past three years, and 23 customs officers have been accused.
"Ops Transit involved smuggling in Port Klang, which caused the leakage of more than RM3.5bil over the past 10 years, while Ops Pump involved immigration officers who conspired with syndicates to bring in foreigners at KLIA and KLIA2.
"In addition, Ops Liter, which was carried out in Sibu, Sarawak revealed the leakage of RM400mil since 2012 due to the theft of subsidised diesel allocated to fishermen," he said.
He reiterated that law enforcement officers are the country's frontline and should be free from corruption.
"If it involves law enforcers taking bribes at the checkpoint, it is very unfortunate because that is the first person the visitor encounters and has brought a bad perception.
"Those involved in this crime have enjoyed illegal money; we need to take that money back because it is the people's money. So efforts in that direction are being made," he said.
He said, based on the information received, almost RM30bil is on the black market due to the successful crackdown on organised crime.
"This money can be returned to the government if the law enforcement agencies, especially those in the front line, can carry out the trust by enforcing their duties based on the provisions of the law they are responsible for.
"If not, crime will continue to occur through activities of smuggling, drugs, gambling and immorality that will destroy the country in terms of culture, including the character of the people," he said.
In fact, Azam said the MACC Tactical Team (ACTS) has been established to strengthen MACC's operational actions further.
"The team consists of 20 officers and is fully armed and trained by VAT 69. This commando is involved in high-risk and critical operations to disable the syndicate network," he said.
DISMANTLING THE HIGH PROFILE CASE
According to Azam, in addition to the syndicate, the MACC also succeeded in uncovering high-profile cases that caused the leakage of money, loss of funds and billions of ringgit in state money.
"For example, the MACC acted to return billions of national money through the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case.
"So far, using the Anti-Money Laundering Act, MACC has recovered 1MDB's assets amounting to RM29bil or almost 70% of the misappropriated money.
"It is a very proud percentage because the average global asset recovery is about 30%.
"If this corruption issue has reached stage four 'cancer', it has become a cancer, and it is no longer useful to have an agency like us (MACC)," he said.
He said that in an effort to reduce the country's leakage rate, the MACC needs to use all methods of approach, such as operation, prevention, and community education.
"If it was five years ago, it could be said that the MACC paid attention to all cases, including the smallest reported cases.
"But now the MACC is focusing on reducing the country's drain on bribery or corruption in the enforcement, procurement and grand corruption sectors," he said.
Azam said that in the enforcement sector, for example, there are groups that allow taxes to be withheld or appropriate actions to be delayed.
"There are also law enforcement groups that allow various smuggling activities. All this will cause a huge drain on the country.
"Leakage occurs when no action is taken on the wrongdoing, which in turn causes the country to suffer losses and fraud in procurement," he said.
CIVIL SERVANTS’ INVOLVEMENT
In the meantime, he also commented on issues involving civil servants for a period of five years starting in 2020.
During that period, he said, 30,483 pieces of information were received, of which 17,892, or 58%, were related to civil servants.
"We have opened 2,123 investigation papers, and a total of 2,046 individuals were arrested with 1,036 charges and 464 convictions of civil servants," he said.
Azam said 1,124 cases were recorded involving accepting bribes, giving bribes (19 cases), presenting false claims (445 cases), abuse of power (320 cases), the Penal Code (153 cases), and money laundering (57 cases).
"Regarding money laundering, they will put the money in many places besides involving proxies to buy assets," he said.
RM277BIL LEAK IN FIVE YEARS
Leakage is the cause of the country's losses, which amounted to RM277bil over the past five years.
Thus, Azam said, the large amount of losses due to leakages and corruption must be saved by the state.
"In order to overcome the issue of leakage and corruption, MACC needs to have trained and skilled intelligence officers.
"In fact, we need to use more sophisticated software, which the government must assist and provide.
"Investigations need to be more effective with the presence of experts in certain fields. Forensic technology experts, as well as experts in accounting, are needed.
"MACC also needs officers who can analyse high-profile cases," he said.
According to him, the MACC, in collaboration with the LHDN, collected RM500mil this year to be returned to the government.
"So this is a good catalyst. If more cooperation in law enforcement and proactive actions are taken, of course, more of the proceeds from criminal activities can be returned to the country.
"It can, to some extent, help the operating costs of the local authorities," he said.
In this regard, Azam said that MACC needs to change periodically to reach a better level.
"Changes need to be made in various aspects, including the investigation approach," he said.
He said that matter is very important because it is the backbone of MACC's success.
"If I want to compare between now and the last five years, we have made many changes in the aspect of the investigation approach.
"After the end of Covid-19, we saw various effects on the economic problem that caused us all to feel the effects.
"So MACC needs to come up with an approach and put together a different strategy than before because we need to help the country improve the economy and certainly reduce the level of corruption," he said.
Azam said until now, the MACC has achieved many successes in its efforts to improve and reform the commission.
He explained that among the successes were improved investigation methods, increased prosecution rates, changes in integrity and governance policies, and increased public awareness of corruption issues.
"Corruption issues must be constantly monitored and dealt with before they become a culture or a cancer to society.
"Society will become chaotic with corrupt thoughts.
"When this happens, everything will suffer when corruption dominates social, economic and community issues," he said.
INFO
1) MACC was established on 1 October 1967 under the name Anti-Corruption Agency (BPR)
2) In 2008, Parliament agreed that MACC should be created to replace BPR
3) MACC is enforced by the MACC Act 2009
4) The Cabinet meeting on May 8 2024, agreed to establish a Corruption Perception Index (CPI) Special Task Force.
The team is chaired by the Chief Secretary of State, representatives of 9 ministries and agencies, and 5 experts.
5) The government has launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) 2024-2029 to increase Malaysia's CPI to the top 25 in 10 years.
6) MACC measures to remain relevant:
- Collaboration with the Education Ministry for anti-corruption education and the Anti-Corruption Wira Program
- MACC and the Institute of Higher Education (IPT) organise the Anti-Corruption Student Group (AMAR) and the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course (KIAR) as compulsory modules.
- A new approach to social media
- Tax exemption initiative for companies organising anti-corruption programs.
