It is becoming a trend for people to lodge police reports against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) when they are being investigated, said minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz.

In a written reply to Teresa Kok (DAP-Seputeh) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Nazri said those under investigation would claim that MACC officers had used force on them, but that this has never been proven.

parliament gobind singh ban over nazri mistake 251108 01 Nazri said there is no record of any officer having been charged in court or of having had disciplinary action taken against them over the last five years, as an outcome of the police reports.

“Lately, there has been a trend for people being investigated by the commission to lodge police reports, claiming they were abused and forced to make a confession,” said Nazri.

He claimed this was done deliberately so that they can avoid being charged for corruption, and also to gain sympathy from the public.

“It paints a picture that the MACC is a cruel enforcement agency,” said Nazri.

MACC measures

Nazri said the MACC has come up with several measures to prevent such allegations being made against them.

Among these is the setting up of interview rooms equipped with closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV) and computer facilities in every MACC office.

NONE The minister said comprehensive training courses will be held to improve interview skills and investigation techniques of the officers.

“It will enable officers to get cooperation, a confession and the truth from witnesses and suspects without resorting to force or abuse,” added Nazri.

The commission is currently bound by guidelines such as the Chief Commissioner’s standing orders on interview or interrogation techniques.