Members of the advisory panel of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have no authority to discuss case investigations by the MACC openly, especially those cases which are still being investigated, the Dewan Rakyat sitting was told today.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Liew Vui Keong said this was because the provision under Section 29 (4) of the MACC Act 2009 clearly specified that any complaint could not be disclosed by anyone.

"The complaints cannot be exposed by anyone to any others except to officers of the commission and public prosecutor until the accused has been charged in court.

"Any disclosure can only be made with the agreement of the public prosecutor or an officer of the commission with the rank of commissioner or higher," he said.

He said this when replying to Ismail Kasim (BN-Arau) who wanted to know on the jurisdiction of the Members of the MACC advisory panel and whether they could make open statements on behalf of the MACC on cases that were being or had yet to be investigated.

Liew said any statement made by the members on MACC investigations were made in their personal capacity and could not be linked to the commission.

- Bernama