KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Dec 2008: The government will stick to its decision not to place the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Parliament as it fears the possibility of favouritism arising if a member of the august House is charged for corruption.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said ever since the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) the government had never allowed the entity to be placed under Parliament.
“We also have no intention at all to place the MACC under Parliament because an individual may not be found guilty based on his popularity in the Dewan (Rakyat).
“It’s also possible that a popular member of parliament will not be found guilty because of his popularity in the Dewan (Rakyat),” he said when winding up the debate on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Bill 2008 at the Dewan Rakyat today.
On the proposal that the power of prosecution be placed under the Chief Commissioner instead of the Public Prosecutor to ensure the independence of the Commission, Mohamed Nazri said the government had no intention to make any amendment on the matter.
This is because it concerned Article 145 of the Federal Constitution where the power to initiate prosecution lie with the Attorney-General.
The Dewan Rakyat later passed the Bill with a minor amendment to Clause 36(1)(b), to amend the word Public Prosecutor to Commission Officer. — Bernama
