PREVENTION, enforcement and education are among the high-impact focuses that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has to emphasise, Chief Commissioner Azam Baki said.

According to Azam, whoever helmed the commission must look at matters that could harm and impact society.

“The MACC should play a role in prevention, enforcement and education so that its actions are more effective. In terms of enforcement, the existing technique needs to be improved.

“Upscaling and knowledge of employees need to be improved. We cannot be left behind in technology, development or how criminals operate,” he said yesterday, adding that many things had to be looked into for the MACC to continue to be feared and become a respected anti-corruption body.

Azam said that in the next five years there would be changes in technology, hence making corruption cases becoming more sophisticated.

“Even now, bribes are being paid using cryptocurrency. It’s hard to detect… I have to admit it. The MACC and Bank Negara Malaysia are still looking into ways to detect bribe payments through the virtual world.

“As such, prevention activities need to go in tandem with changing times and technology,” he said.

On a move to introduce an anti-corruption syllabus in education, Azam said the syllabus may no longer be suitable in the next five years and needed to be updated to mould a society that rejects and hates corruption.

“It maybe relevant now, but in the future, with the change in people’s thinking, technology and so on, we will all also think differently, Generation Y will think differently, so we need to unite with them.

“That’s why we have to always be young, keep up with the times. I may be 59 but I have to also think like young people,” he said.

Meanwhile, on a proposal for the MACC chief commissioner to be given the power to prosecute, Azam said that role was not necessary.

“Our duty is to investigate and bring the investigation papers to the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). The AGC will decide. They will prosecute in court and let the judge decide the case,” he added. – Bernama, October 1, 2022.