MACC rise to defence of chairman lambasted for saying judiciary often lenient on the corrupt
PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s advisory board had endorsed a call for harsher sentences on offenders of graft and abuse of power.
In a statement today, board chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim expressed the panel’s full support for their colleague, Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah, who was criticised for saying the judiciary system is often too lenient in punishing those found guilty of corruption.
“My colleagues and I on the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board fully endorse Mohd Noor’s remarks, which were intended to be constructive in ensuring that punishments fit the crimes within our criminal justice system – a sentiment which is shared by the overwhelming majority of those who want more done to fight this, the most dangerous and debilitating social condition that has become a grave national concern.
“Any punishment that does not act as an effective deterrent is no deterrent at all. It is at best derisory and at worst, an insult to the majesty of the law,” he added.
Last week, the former Court of Appeals judge was lambasted by senior judges, including the newly-retired chief justice, Tun Arifin Zakaria and Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali, for expressing his belief that sentences meted out to those found guilty of corruption are often not commensurate with the crime.
Mohd Noor also urged judges to send offenders to jail instead of just slapping them with a fine.
