PUTRAJAYA, April 9 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) announced a 24-hour operations centre for the general elections today, but stressed that it can only legally deal with four specific offences involving the polls.
MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Dzulkifli Ahmad said his agency was authorised by the Election Offences 1954 only to investigate reports of voter impersonation, treats, undue influence, and bribery.
It was also limited by Section 11 of the same Act on the action the MACC may take, he explained.
“People can start providing information of any wrongdoing that they come across during the election period and rest assured they will be protected under the Whistleblower Act.
“Just make sure you come with proper evidence for us to investigate. There is a certain aspect we may not have the law to investigate, but we can assist by redirecting the complaints to police or the Election Commission (EC) for further action,” he said after a joint meeting with EC chairman Tan Sri Mohd Hashim Abdullah at MACC headquarters in Putrajaya this morning.
Dzulkifli declined to provide examples of election offences, however, and said these would be spelled out in a separate event.
On the operation centre for the election, he said it was been set up at the MACC’s headquarters to monitor poll-related activities.
“The control room will be operating 24 hours and it has been simultaneously launched at all state levels today,” he said.
The MACC chief also offered his agency’s services in vetting candidate backgrounds for corrupt activities and abuses.
Only Barisan Nasional (BN) has taken the MACC up on the offer, he said when noting that the Opposition has not responded
“We are open to any political parties who need our help to carry out a proper background check,” he said.
The vetting process involves a detailed background check with relevant agencies that the MACC then compiles and returns to the political parties for their action, he said.
