PH calls for MACC chief to be put on leave

Top Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders have called for the chief of the country’s anti-graft agency to be put on leave pending an investigation into the remand of three officers over allegations of abuse of power and misconduct in the case of a former head of department.

They welcomed Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin’s statement in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday that a police inquiry had been launched into the matter.

“However, given that this issue has created a very negative perception of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and caused Malaysians to question the integrity of the institution itself, we believe that an investigation paper should be opened,” PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim, DAP’s Lim Guan Eng, Amanah’s Mohamad Sabu and Upko’s Wilfred Madius Tangau said in a statement today.

“The investigation should be thorough and those who have violated the law must be brought to face justice.

“Meanwhile, Azam Baki, chief commissioner of MACC, should be put on leave until a full investigation can be carried out.”

MACC confirmed on Sept 20 that three of its senior officers had been detained in connection with alleged abuse of power and misappropriation in a case involving a former director-general of a government agency.

Reports have named former Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation chief Hasanah Abdul Hamid as the owner of the money.