'Just you wait,' MACC boss warns corrupt politicians

It will only be a matter of time before corrupt politicians are ensnared by the jaws of justice.

This was the warning issued by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad.

"To all corrupt politicians, I have only one word for you: Wait," he said.

He said this in an interview on Astro Awani's prime time news segment "Hari Ini 8".

He recalled that in his open letter issued on his 100th day as chief commissioner, he warned corrupt politicians that he will come after them.

This warning still stands, said Dzulkifli who was appointed to the post last August.

He was responding to claims that MACC dared not take action against politicians.

He, however, declined to reveal if the anti-graft body already had opened investigations against politicians.

"This is MACC's strategy, and we will (reveal) at the right time.

"What is certain, however, is that no one involved in corruption in Malaysia can get way with it, be it politicians, corporate figures, GLC officers or civil servants," he said.

He said Malaysians must also be fair to him, as he has not even been on the job for six months.

He said that he has thus far fulfilled his promise to have at least one MACC arrest or prosecution in court every week in the year 2017.

"I don't say much, but I prove it with my actions," he said.

The public should also consider that there are only 2,900 MACC officers, of which less than half are enforcement officers, he added.

The anti-graft body is also operating at its lowest ever budget since 2013, he said.

"But these are not excuses not to take action. Action will still be taken despite our manpower and financial challenges," he said.

Meanwhile, on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index, Dzulkifli vowed that there will be improvements in the score and ranking in the future.

Malaysia slid one spot to share the 55th position with Croatia in 2016.

Dzulkifli said the slide is however, "not surprising" as the number of countries ranked in TI-M grew from 168 in 2015 to 176 in 2016.

"The MACC has formed a committee on the CPI and will handle it in a more focused manner.

"I am confident the actions taken will ensure a better ranking on the index in 2017 and the next two years," he said.- Mkini