Of late, the reputation of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been stained. It only took a few from among the MACC personnel exposed by the press for wrongdoing to make the public lose faith in the credibility, integrity, professionalism and independence of the agency.

As reported, a senior officer was accused of misappropriating US$6.4 million (RM25.1 million) seized by the commission four years ago. He was accused of criminal breach of trust with monies entrusted to him at the MACC special action branch chiefs room in 2019. The officer in the theft case was also probed for drugs.

Two MACC officers were arrested in connection with a heist at a businessmans house involving RM700,000. Before that, two other MACC personnel were arrested and remanded over the case.

The MACCs senior-most officer is under investigation by the Securities Commission for his statement that his brother had used his name to purchase shares in 2015.

To salvage this negative impression of the institution, for better accountability and to ensure the autonomy of the agency to function with independence and integrity, MACC should not come under the Prime Ministers Department but should be an institution answerable to Parliament where it could be scrutinised by a bipartisan parliamentary select committee.

The MACC, as the bastion of hope for a corruption-free nation, must be staffed with personnel with high integrity and not those subservient to politicians or those drowning in personal interests.

MACC personnel can be asked to appear before the parliamentary committee to explain any controversies facing the agency, their actions or their failures to act in battling corruption. Such a move will allow MPs to voice their discontent on issues raised by the public. This is necessary to preserve the good name of the agency.

Putting MACC under the scrutiny of the parliamentary committee will also help the commission to conduct its investigations into any public official without fear or favour.

In fact, the authority of both the national audit department and the MACC should be off-limits to the prime minister. The empowering of Parliament and limiting the power of the prime minister over these two main agencies is vital in fighting corruption and the abuse of power.

Besides that, the MACC with officials of high integrity, competence and impartiality should be given a free hand to independently investigate and prosecute its cases without recourse to the office of the attorney-general. The country seriously needs reform to this effect.

Question :

the impact of corruption and power abuse on audit?

please give a right and clear explanation

thank you