More graft cases uncovered as govt allows MACC to go full throttle, says PM

PARLIAMENT | More serious graft cases are being uncovered lately because the government allows MACC to go full throttle against corruption, according to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Speaking at the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar said this was the reason why Malaysia is seeing more and more shocking news related to corruption.

This includes the recent arrests of several armed forces intelligence officers over alleged involvement in a smuggling syndicate, which the premier said had been going on since 2020.

"In relation to the arrests by MACC, I agree that this is not a matter that can be taken lightly because it involves the country's intelligence body.

"But I want to tell you that based on our preliminary findings, this (activity) has been going on since 2020.

"If you ask why only now that so many cases are being uncovered, it is because we give way completely to the MACC. This is the difference," he said during the Prime Minister's Question Time this morning.

Anwar was responding to a supplementary question from Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas), who wanted to know what the government is doing to address threats from within the country's defence system.

Fadhli had cited recent incidents, including last week's arrests of five senior armed forces officers for allegedly leaking military operation information to smugglers.

The prime minister also took the chance to take a swipe at opposition politicians for allegedly defending several individuals who had come under MACC crosshairs.

According to Anwar, the anti-graft agency had launched investigations into the suspects based on their study into cases that had been "overdue for a long time".

"... if there is a case, then there will be prosecution. But whenever we have major cases, you should not defend these people.

"(You saying) pity them, or this was because of 'dendam' (old grudge)... what dendam?" he said.

It is believed that Anwar was referring to the MACC probe against former finance minister Daim Zainuddin, who died in November.

The prime minister then urged all parties not to politicise MACC actions and investigations.

Reporting by Hariz Mohd, Alyaa Alhadjri, Maulana Paizi

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