An anti-corruption watchdog has today demanded full public disclosure of the basis for the government's dismissal of corruption allegations against former Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Zulkipli Mat Noor and police chief Musa Hassan.

"Transparency International Malaysia believes that the public would like to see the full report of the investigations and basis for the decisions made on all these allegations," said the organisation's president, Ramon V Navaratnam.

Last Friday, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail ( left ) cleared both Zulkipli and Musa of a litany of corruption allegations for lack of evidence.

Zulkipli was probed by the police over 28 allegations of corruption and abuse of power, while Musa was investigated by the ACA for allegedly receiving RM2 million in return for the release of three underworld figures under the Emergency Ordinance, which allows detention without trial.

In addition to the two, a senior police officer at Bukit Aman is also currently being investigated for abuse of power and undeclared assets worth about RM27 million. He has neither been suspended from duty nor had his assets frozen.

"The public must be convinced and satisfied that the enforcement agencies have taken all necessary steps in the investigations of all charges against these three officials."

Ex-Sabah ACA chief Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan, the whistleblower responsible for the allegations against Zulkipli, has on Monday faulted the attorney-general for clearing his former boss.

Need to remove public doubt

Ramon expressed his disappointment at the measures undertaken by the enforcement agencies on the three cases despite the severity of the accusations.

"The attorney-general would need to provide sound cogent basis for his decisions in such cases which involved the public interest and confidence in law enforcement mechanisms and the rule of law."

The nation's premier anti-corruption watchdog reiterated its call for a legislation to protect whistleblowers and to make the ACA a "truly independent agency that reports to an independent commission or to Parliament directly".

"Independent judgment is a prerequisite for public confidence. If the agencies concerned were seen by the public to be more independent, then any doubts would be removed and the persons concerned would have their images protected more effectively," said Ramon.

"It is only fair to the individuals who are cleared to feel that they enjoy the full confidence of the public in their innocence."