PETALING JAYA: The offer of a travel allowance to entice voters to return to their hometowns to vote is deemed a bribe, says the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Its deputy chief commissioner (operations) Datuk Azam Baki said that in the eyes of the law, offering voters any form of inducement, be it cash or gifts, is bribery.
“For example, if a voter was offered an allowance to go back and vote, or pay RM50 so that he or she votes for a particular candidate,” he told Sin Chew Daily in an interview.
Azam, however, explained that if politicians offered genuine aid such as rice or a donation to poor folk, this would not constitute a bribe.
He also clarified that election pledges were not considered bribery.
“During the campaign period, political parties will usually make all kinds of promises, such as to build more houses.
“This is not bribery,” he said during the interview.
Azam said candidates in most countries would make campaign promises to woo support, as was the case in the US presidential election.
With election fever building up in anticipation of the 14th general election, the MACC has reminded all political parties and candidates that anyone caught giving bribes will be disqualified.
Azam said once the Election Commission announced the date of the general election, a law enforcement team consisting of MACC officials and the police would be set up to monitor graft activity in the polls.
“If the team receives any report from the public, such cases will be investigated under the Election Commission Act, Anti-Corruption Act and Penal Code,” he said.
Azam also said the MACC had no intention of seeking amendments to the law to make it mandatory for all candidates to declare their assets.
“It will be up to the parties whether they want their candidates to declare their assets,” he said.
Azam said it was usual for political parties to submit their candidate list to the MACC and police for vetting
Just wait! We’ll get you after GE14, MACC tells corrupt politicians
FMT Reporters | May 21, 2017
MACC chief advises political parties to carefully screen and choose their candidates for the next general election.
PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has promised to act against corrupt politicians – after the general election.
MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad said they did not want to act against politicians now as it could be used a campaign fodder in GE14.
In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, he said many people had queried an earlier announcement by MACC that it would go all out against any politician after GE14.
He advised political parties to save themselves a lot of grief by only choosing “clean” people to contest as assemblymen and MPs.
“If this is not done, don’t blame us if we come knocking on their doors after GE14.
“I don’t make empty promises or populist statements.
“I have only one word for those who are corrupt – wait.”
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also home minister, said his ministry would give MACC its support and whatever assistance was needed to combat the scourge of corruption.
He said MACC had absolute power to hunt down anyone, be they politicians, businessmen or public officers.
Of late, MACC had been active arresting businessmen and public officers for indulging in corrupt practices.
Zahid said MACC had extensive legal provisions to investigate and conduct searches and it should use these provisions to take action.
