The island republic of Singapore is not cooperating with Malaysia in high-profile investigations involving Malaysians, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's number two, has said.

theSun daily today reports the MACC deputy commissioner (Operations) as saying in Kuching, Sarawak, that MACC was facing difficulties getting documents and other evidence placed in banks in Singapore because of a lack of cooperation from the republic.

Other countries such as Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States and Hong Kong, Shukri said, were willing to cooperate with the MACC in the gathering of information on corruption committed by Malaysians.

NONE "Of course, I am not giving a tip here on where to hide incriminating evidence," Shukri ( right ) said, on a lighter note.

On its unsuccessful attempt to convict accused persons in corruption cases, Shukri said it was because the graft body had found it difficult to get independent witnesses.

"The accused persons and the witnesses are friends and have known each other well, and are working in the same organisation.

"So, you cannot expect the witnesses to implicate their friends when testifying in court. As a result, the accused often escape conviction," he said.

"We need brave and independent witnesses to come forward to give evidence, no matter whether the accused are their friends or people they have known for a long time."

Related stories

Minister sidesteps 'JPP to reward BN backers' claim

Pakatan duo demand status report on 'graft' probe

Selangor gov't under fire over MPKj crisis

Ex-MPSJ officer jailed, fined RM1.28m for graft

55 civil servants found to be involved in graft