NGO urges MACC to use lifestyle as indication of graft

The National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) finds lifestyle the root cause of graft

KUALA LUMPUR: An anti-graft body has advised the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) to keep an eye on GLCs heads and Ministers who live beyond their means and check on them.

The National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW), which issued the call, pointed out that lifestyle was at the root of the corruption plaguing the country.

“The national wealth and taxpayers funds are involved,” said the watchdog’s director Akmal Nasir. “MACC should not just check on the secretaries of Ministers.”

He was commenting on a MACC statement that said it was checking on the lifestyle of the secretaries and political secretaries of Ministers.

The statement also comes in the wake of a report that the MACC was investigating the case of a Minister’s secretary in Kuching who had lodged false claims amounting to RM500, 000.

The NGO said the MACC should monitor the Prime Minister, his deputy, Cabinet Ministers, senior ministers, senior government officers, GLC directors, lawmakers and their family members. “They should be asked to declare their assets before taking up their appointments and every two years during the tenure of service,” said Akmal.

“The findings should be made public to discourage living beyond one’s means.”