The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said that it is improving in terms of securing convictions and the number of reports received.

NONE In a press release late this evening, MACC deputy chief Mohd Shukri Abdull ( right ) said convictions had rose from 45.4 percent in 2009 to 85 percent in 2012.

"Up until June 30, 2013, we secured a 89 percent conviction rate. This means that of 10 people who are charged, nine were convicted," he said.

On the number of reports received, Shukri Abdull said 12,307 reports were recieved in 2009 and it escalated to 13,325 in 2011. The subsequent year, 11,765 reports were made.

"The statistics on the information we had received shows that the MACC is still trusted by society, despite the fact that almost half the information received does not contain the element of corruption," he said.

He explained that of the 12,307 reports received in 2011, only 5,936 contained an element of corruption while the from the 13,325 reports in 2011, only 6,475 contained an element of corruption.

Approval rating on the rise

Shukri Abdull also quoted a research by independent pollsters had shown a rise in public confidence towards the MACC.

The latest survey conducted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2012 revealed that 64 percent approval rating for MACC, up from 31 percent in a survey conducted by Merdeka Centre in 2009.

"MACC is targeting a 80 percent approval rating," said Shukri Abdull.

NONE Shukri Abdull was responding to Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli's claims that only one in five reports received by the MACC resulted in an investigation paper being opened in 2011, as compared to 77 percent by their Hong Kong counterpart, the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC).

Rafizi also complained that MACC's conviction rate in 2011 was much lower than the ICAC.

'We trying to be fair'

NONE In another press release, the MACC said that it is unable to reveal details about its investigations related to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud ( centre in photo ) as requested yesterday by Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin.

"If his request is fulfilled, there will be others who will want details and documents on other individuals, including political leaders from his (Sim's) party.

"This would not be fair to those who are being investigated," read the press release.

The commission said that such details are only accessible to the accused during the court proceeding.