The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been given ample room to investigate, conduct searches and take action against anyone at all involved in corruption, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.

Urging support for these proactive efforts, the deputy prime minister said MACC was not merely an enacted entity but had absolute power to hunt down anyone at all, be they politicians, businessmen or public officers.

"The Home Ministry and I formally give ample room for MACC to not only investigate but also conduct searches based on the information obtained and to act immediately on all accusations," Zahid said when asked to comment on the statement by MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad yesterday.

Zahid spoke to reporters after the pinning of honorary ranks for People's Volunteer Corps (Rela) members from the Home Ministry Top Management Council in Putrajaya.

Dzulkifli, speaking on the Astro Awani news channel last night, had warned that corrupt politicians would not escape action from MACC and that it was a matter of time before these people were hauled in as well.

Of late, MACC had been arresting businessmen and public officers for corruption.

Zahid said MACC had extensive legal provisions to investigate and conduct searches and it should use that latitude to take action, based on the rights that have been enacted.

On Rela, the deputy prime minister said its membership had exceeded three million and it should move towards becoming a voluntary force that is always at the frontline in assisting other security forces to maintain national security.

Rela's role should be to serve based on the current situation, but basic matters such as helping out during floods should be stepped up as it was a people-centric approach that had raised its image, Zahid said.

At the pinning of the Rela ranks, Home Ministry secretary-general Alwi Ibrahim led those awarded the ranks with the honorary chief commissioner of Rela.

- Bernama