We can't charge people for stupidity, says MACC chief

Laws in the country do not allow for "carelessness and stupidity" to be charged as an offence, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Abu Kassim Mohamed said today.

"In developed countries, they have a public misconduct offence, where those who are careless, causing a loss in public money can be charged.

"But, unfortunately, here, we can't charge someone for being careless. Nor can we charge someone for being stupid," he lamented while commenting on actions taken by MACC regarding the audit report findings.

Abu Kassim (left, in photo), who was speaking at a forum on the Audit Report at the Karangkraf headquarters today, also said that the MACC shouldn't be relied on to automatically take action on findings in the audit report.

"The department head must have the responsibility to investigate and rectify the matter even before the report is presented to Parliament, " he said, noting that department heads are already aware that their departments are being audited even before the report is complete.

[More to follow]