'MACC should charge CM first and let court decide'

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should leave the question of admissability of evidence to the courts to decide, and not hold back charging of a certain state leader for corruption.

DAP Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo argued that MACC’s excuse for not charging an unnamed "wealthy leader of a state" because “shoddy laws” prevented them from doing so, was laughable.

“The MACC should not look for excuses to justify its failure to bring these leaders to book. The question of admissibility of evidence is a matter that should be left to the court to decide.

“The MACC should charge where there is evidence and let the court decide. If the courts throw out the case because of a problem with the law, then it would be for Parliament to move to correct the position.

“But without trying, it is simply ridiculous to justify not prosecuting on these grounds alone,” said Gobind in a statement today.

He was referring to Kubang Kerian MP Salahuddin Ayub’s revelation of what MACC at a briefing last week told the parliamentary special committee (PSC) on corruption.

Salahuddin yesterday said MACC had said they were unable to charge the leader despite six reports having been lodged, citing laws - such as Sections 23 and 50 of the MACC Act 2009 - that the commission said Parliament should review.

Gobind said it was unacceptable that MACC was not doing anything about a case of  corruption simply because of certain laws.

'AG must clarify'

“What you are in effect saying is that you know there is corruption, you know who is corrupt but you can't do anything about it and you have been sitting on it and not doing anything about it until now.

“Such excuses are laughable to say the least. It is shameful. This will again cast a great shadow of doubt over the impartiality and effectiveness of the MACC,” he said.
Furthermore, Gobind said the MACC should have brought this problem to the attorney-general much earlier.

“I call upon the AG as the public prosecutor to state whether this problem has been brought to his attention. If it has, he must tell us what he has done about it, and if he has done nothing, he must also state why?

“The problem is one which relates to investigation and prosecution. The AG’s Chambers must take full responsibility for it as these are matters within its purview and give us a complete account of how it is they propose to deal with it as soon as possible,” said Gobind, who is also the Puchong MP.

Last June MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed admitted that the commission was probing Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud but refused to divulge any details.