[ Laman Ehwal Semasa ReformIS ]
Date: 08 Aug 1999
Time: 23:45:37
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ACA not govt tool, says D-G
KOTA BARU: Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Datuk Ahmad Zaki Husin yesterday urged leaders of political parties to stop labelling the agency as a government tool to topple leaders in the run-up to the general election.
He said such irresponsible claims would result in the public losing confidence in the ACA and kindle suspicion among foreigners that corruption was rife in the country.
"The ACA has never been involved in the ploy of any political party," he told reporters at the ACA office here.
All ACA investigations of political leaders, be they from the government or the opposition, were based on information received and certain aspects of the investigation took years as proof had to be obtained, he said.
"Since the election fever began, there has been no investigation into the affairs of any politician whether from the opposition or the government."
Ahmad Zaki was commenting on claims by leaders of certain opposition parties that the Barisan Nasional government would use the ACA as a tool to discredit and topple leaders opposed to the Barisan.
"In fact, several countries had sought the ACA's advice on prevention of corruption but some Malaysians do not seem to have faith in the agency," he said.
He said following attempts to politicise the corruption issue, the ACA's integrity was also affected when a Hong Kong based body reported that the corruption index for Malaysia had risen to seven on a scale of 10, from five previously.
"In actual fact corruption is at a very low level in Malaysia and does not form a culture like in other countries," he added.
Ahmad Zaki appealed to politicians to work with the ACA to stamp out this menace and not run down the agency.--Bernam