Special court for corruption cases to be set up - Mahathir

A special court will be set up to deal with corruption cases, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced today.

Mahathir said this proposed special court, which will focus on clearing past corruption cases, is in line with the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP).

Among the pending cases, he added, are those that involve the construction of army camps to alter voter demographics in certain constituencies ahead of the last general election.

"Army camps were built (before) the general election so that soldiers could vote in certain areas.

"This is wrong but we see that many of these were done through land swaps to expedite the construction of the camps.

"There are cases where after the general election, the camps were left empty," he told a press conference after chairing a special cabinet meeting on anti-corruption at the Prime Minister's Department.

Expediting cases

According to Mahathir, the proposed court was aimed at expediting the resolution of corruption cases.

"We find that corruption trials are regarded as ordinary trials without any priority given to them.

"We, of course, do not interfere with the processes of the courts, but this matter is of great seriousness, and people are asking where is the punishment for certain crimes committed by certain individuals.

"We want the special court to hold the hearings as soon as possible," he said.

On a related matter, Mahathir said the "Malaysia Bersih" song would now be played alongside the national anthem to foster greater awareness of the effects of corruption.

"All members of the government know the importance of keeping this country free of corruption, so that we are not known as a kleptocracy, and that we will return to becoming a democracy," he said. - Mkini