The government has no plans to give the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) prosecution powers now vested in the attorney-general.

NONE Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz said like other countries, the power to prosecute lies with the attorney-general or public prosecutors who are independent and not influenced by investigating agencies.

"There must be check and balance in investigation and prosecution. If investigation agencies are empowered to prosecute, then there is no independence of mind in considering facts and testimony objectively."

He was replying to a question by Loke Siew Fook (DAP-Rasah) on whether the government would empower MACC to prosecute as proposed by the select committee in the MACC Report 2009.

Exclusive power to prosecute for AG

Nazri said it was odd for an enforcement and intelligence agency like MACC to be given powers to prosecute.

"The MACC investigation has to be studied and reviewed by the attorney-general to ensure transparency, fairness and justice, in line with his position as prosecutor.

"The operation evaluation panel set up to review decisions made by the legal division is still a component of MACC."

He said giving MACC prosecution powers could prompt agencies like the  police, customs and immigration to ask for the same.

"As such, the attorney-general should be given exclusive powers to prosecute to smoothen administration of the legal system," he added.

- Bernama