MACC gives report to Parliament

The 2010 figures show improvements in arrest arrest and conviction rates over 2009.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) took 381 people to court in 2010 and 71% of them were found guilty of corruption.

These were some of the figures MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed mentioned before reporters at Parliament today as he presented copies of the commission’s annual report to the Special Parliamentary Committee for Corruption (SPCC).

The figures show improvements in arrest and conviction rates over 2009, MACC’s first year of operation. It arrested 944 people in 2010, which was 444 more than in 2009. The number charged in 2009 was 174 and the conviction rate was 64.4%.

Receiving the report, SPCC chairman Radzi Sheikh Ahmad said his committee would discuss the report next month in five meetings—on the 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th and 18th.

He also said SPCC might call the MACC for a full explanation of the report.

SPCC’s recommendations will be submitted to the Prime Minister. Radzi said he hoped to have the recommendations ready for debate during the June sitting of Parliament.

SCC member and Kota Belud MP Abdul Rahman Dahlan spoke about the negative public perception of MACC and said it needed time to prove itself.

“I want the public to give the MACC a chance, as has been shown in other countries such as with Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption.”

He said MACC was a “work in progress” and it was not right for critics to base their judgement of it on “certain cases”. He did not elaborate, but added that it would take time for the commission to solve high-profile cases. - FMT