Penang ready to work with MACC to tackle corrupt practices

The Penang government today said it is ready to work with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to ensure that officers involved in corrupt practices are dealt with severely.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government welcomed MACC’s investigations on corruption involving civil servants in the state as they were in line with the CAT principles of good governance, competency, accountability and transparency practised since 2008.

"No one is above the law and civil servants, whether from federal, state or local authorities and agencies, found to be involved in accepting bribes, abuse of power and making false claims, must be investigated and charged as soon as possible," he said in a statement.

However, Chow said the Penang government also wanted MACC to be transparent in revealing the number of cases brought to court and the number of civil servants found guilty.

"We demand transparency on the part of MACC as we do not want the image of Penang civil servants and the state government to be tarnished only by account of the number of complaints received since 2019," he said.

Chow was responding to a statement by MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki, who expressed concern yesterday over civil servants in Penang accepting bribes, abuse of power and making false claims.

Azam said MACC had received a total of 919 complaints on such offences from 2019 until now.