Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy commissioner (prevention) Mustafar Ali today said the tough talk at the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) against Malaysia may be due to its representatives not "having all the facts".

He was asked to respond to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi ( photo ) who had hit out at speakers at the IACC for their criticism of Putrajaya and in particular, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's RM2.6 billion scandal.

"This is their perception or their views when they raise their concerns.

"Of course, again, it is only their views. Perhaps they do not have the facts," Mustafar told a press conference in conjunction with the third and last day of the IACC this afternoon.

Malaysia facing a corruption crisis

Yesterday, Zahid said it was unfortunate for the heads of international NGOs to come to Malaysia only "to be duped into recycling baseless allegations" and "unwittingly involving themselves in the country's internal politics".

This was after Transparency International president Jose Ugaz ( photo ) said during the opening of the IACC on Wednesday that Malaysia was facing a corruption crisis and asked that Najib explain himself.

"We want to see more progress but that cannot happen while there are unanswered questions about the US$700 million that made its way into the prime minister’s personal bank account," he had said.

Yesterday, IACC council member Michael Hershman ( photo ) also took aim at Najib, albeit diplomatically, telling the prime minister that he cannot cover up the scandal.

“My advice to the Malaysian prime minister would be not to cover up, not to obstruct justice because it doesn’t work.

“Tell the truth. Where did the money come from? What was its intended use and if he did something wrong, ask for forgiveness and face the consequences," he said.

At the press conference today, Mustafar acknowledged that the country had to deal with corruption but said it was not as serious as described.

"We recognise that corruption happens and we are serious about it, but it is not a major crisis in Malaysia," he said.