No prosecution powers for MACC

Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department has confirmed that the government will not be giving any prosecution powers to the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). He was replying to Anthony Loke, the Rasah Member of Parliament where he said that only the AG (Attorney General) had the prosecution powers against those in corruption charges and that MACC will not be given any.

He said “In any country, the power to prosecute or charge lies in the hands of the Attorney-General or an independent prosecutor free from any influence by any agencies. If conducting investigations, there has to be some form of check and balance. If the MACC were granted prosecution powers, there would be a lack of “objectivity” in its investigations. It would be awkward if an agency like the MACC, which conducts investigation, is suddenly at the same time given powers to prosecute. The investigations by MACC need to be looked at by the A-G to guarantee fairness, transparency and balance. The A-G in his capacity as prosecutor has the authority under Section 376 of the Penal Code to take action,”

He added that “Should MACC be granted the power to prosecute, other law enforcement agencies would follow suit in seeking to be accorded the same ability. If this happens, there is a big possibility that other bigger law enforcement agencies like the police, Royal Customs department and Immigration department will be making similar applications and this will make things difficult. That is why the jurisdiction has to be given exclusively to the A-G,”


comments

What guarantee fainess,transparency and balance you are talking about from the AG chamber ? Havnt we heard about the 101 cases of abuse of power and interference of vested parties in low and high profile cases ? Oh,you ought to be ashamed to expect any fair deal from our judicial system where the poor and ordinary citizen are at the reciving end while the high and elite have their field day. Only in their next world would these poor souls find their justice served !