Balance needed in anti-corruption probes, says Nurul Izzah

 The PKR deputy president says investigative practices must meet higher standards of fairness and privacy.

PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar said public trust grows when institutions are seen to be acting fairly and transparently.

PETALING JAYA:

 PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has called for anti-corruption investigations to be carried out with greater respect for privacy and fairness, stressing that public confidence is essential for effective enforcement.

She acknowledged that scrutiny into alleged wrongdoing, such as the RM1.1 billion government deal with Arm Holdings, may be legitimate.

“However, the high-handed manner in which some investigations appear to be conducted, including the public disclosure and circulation of home addresses for the world to see, has to meet a higher benchmark of accountability.

“It must reflect proportionality, respect for privacy and institutional responsibility,” she said in a statement today.

Nurul Izzah said the credibility of the country’s anti-corruption efforts depended heavily on public trust, which could only be sustained if institutions were seen to be acting fairly and transparently.

She highlighted that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) wields extensive powers under the law and that proper safeguards can help prevent individuals from feeling intimidated when engaging in political or public activities.

To strengthen accountability, Nurul Izzah proposed greater parliamentary oversight of the MACC.

She said regular reporting to Parliament would allow elected representatives to review the commission’s work, while committees such as the Public Accounts Committee or a dedicated parliamentary select committee could examine its policies, procedures and major enforcement decisions.

She said while existing oversight mechanisms under the MACC Act played an important role, their functions remained largely consultative and limited in scope.

She said parliamentary oversight of the MACC is not an attack on anti-corruption efforts but complements them.

MACC recently launched an investigation into alleged misconduct related to a RM1.1 billion government deal with Arm Holdings, signed in March last year.

Chief commissioner Azam Baki said statements had been recorded from 12 witnesses across various government agencies, including a former minister, but declined to confirm if former economy minister Rafizi Ramli was involved.

The anti-graft agency also issued a public search notice for Rafizi’s former special functions officer Chai Jin Shern, also known as James Chai.

Chai described this as “excessive and potentially defamatory” and has since appointed lawyers to liaise with MACC. - FMT