MACC looking into claims of graft in Kuala Koh

The MACC has obtained information about possible corruption in Kampung Kuala Koh in Gua Musang, which recently came to national attention.

MACC chief commissioner Latheefa Koya said, however, that no investigation papers have been opened so far on the matter.

“We have received information and we are looking into it, but I can't discuss operational matters… actually (it will) affect our investigations and so, I cannot comment on that,” she said.

Latheefa said this when speaking to reporters after paying a courtesy call on Kelantan secretary Nazran Muhammad at his office in Kompleks Kota Darul Naim today.

She also did not reveal the parties that furnished the information, or whether it was related to mining or logging activities in the Kuala Koh.

Recently, 15 people from a Bateq village in Kuala Koh died in the space of a month, with three of the deaths confirmed as being caused by measles. The postmortems conducted on the remaining 12 bodies were inconclusive.

Several parties had lodged police reports claiming that the deaths were caused by pollution in Sungai Lebir, but this was denied by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who cited a Health Ministry report during her visit to the settlement.

In a separate development, Latheefa confirmed the MACC's decision to stop the practice of having its suspects wear the orange lock-up attire when appearing in court from July 1.

“It was an attire that presented an image as though the suspect was already a guilty person. 

"That is why we are stressing that whoever is detained from now, until proven guilty and sentenced, must never be viewed in that light.”

Among matters discussed in her hour-long meeting with Nazran were the National Anti-Corruption Plan and asset declaration. 

- Bernama