Bar Council: Stop the harassment, MACC

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — The Malaysian Bar Council has issued a statement condemning the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) recent actions that suggest “impartiality” and “harassment” on the part of the Commission.

The written statement by Malaysian Bar Council president Dato’ Ambiga Sreenevasan questioned the MACC’s recent public statement about investigations against Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim “in a way that raised serious questions about the impartiality of the Commission”, and the alleged three-hour interrogation of Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar by MACC.

“These events give rise to two concerns. One is of the harassment of the (Perak) Speaker and an interference with his duties, and the other is that there is an unusual haste and publicity in relation to the MB’s case when far more serious reports against others appear to have been put aside,” stated Ambiga.

One of the issues raised by the Bar Council was the question of the MACC being an independent body that acted professionally in their investigations and practised impartiality to all cases, unlike the previous Anti-Corruption Agency, as quoted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the MACC launch.

It said: “How then is the MACC seeking to remove the negative perceptions the Prime Minister spoke of? These events also cause to question what regard the authorities really have for the interests of the public and the public perception.”

The statement point out that the public cannot fooled. “The public are ever watchful of what is unfolding before them… They know that the Rule of Law is vital and that democratic institutions must be strong. The public must never be underestimated in their appreciation of these issues.”