COMMENT | Checking on MACC and other graft busters

COMMENT | Oh yes, we have heard such a bold but ‘meaningless’ statement only too often: “The MACC would like to emphasise that it will not compromise on misconduct, crime or any violation of the law by its officers and will take stern action if they do so.”

Heroic words from the MACC in a June 15 statement last year when the graft buster brought to court one of its own officers for conspiring with another individual to solicit a bribe of RM100,000.

Six months down the road, however, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki himself was found to be embroiled in proxy stock trading.

This was exposed by anti-corruption activist Lalitha Kunaratnam who wrote of alleged wrongdoings and collusions by high-ranking MACC officers in two articles published in the Independent News Service (INS) news portal last year.

It has now boiled to a point of Azam haters, supported by 33 NGOs and 11 political entities, taking to the streets to demand that he quit his office.

Azam was implicated in...