The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) proposed vetting of election candidates is not meant as political interference, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Paul Low said today.

Low said the opposition has the option to not send in their candidate lists for the 14th general election to MACC for screening.

He was addressing concerns raised by both PKR and DAP that MACC could influence candidates that will be fielded for the forthcoming election.

"This is voluntary, it is an option.

“This was merely a preemptive measure from MACC to ensure the candidates selected by the parties hold a high degree of integrity.

"I would commend them for taking that initiative," Low said when met in Putrajaya.

MACC chief commissioner Dzulkifli Ahmad had urged the opposition to submit their list of candidates for the graft-buster to screen their background.

He said BN parties were the only ones to have submitted names of leaders and would-be candidates to be vetted in the past, and that opposition parties had never done so.

PKR, DAP and PAS have declined to submit their candidacy list.