SPECIAL courts to handle corruption cases will be set up soon to clear the backlog, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said laws will be amended to create these courts at all levels of the judiciary, adding that the move is in response to public outcry over the perceived slow prosecution of those accused of graft.

“It will not affect the normal courts because it will come from the normal courts also… We are still finalising the proposal because normally, there are three layers to the courts.

“We find that corruption trials are regarded as ordinary trials, without priority given to them,” he told reporters in Putrajaya after chairing a cabinet committee meeting on fighting graft today.

“We, of course, do not interfere with the processes of the courts, but this is a matter of great seriousness, and people are asking where the punishment is for certain crimes committed by certain individuals.

“We want the special courts to hold the hearings as soon as possible,” he said, adding that judges will be “appointed in the usual manner”.

Prosecutorial powers will remain with the Attorney-General’s Chambers, said Dr Mahathir when asked whether the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will be given more authority.

Whether the laws will be amended this year, he said: “We are trying to do it as fast as possible.

“We understand that the normal courts are very busy. We need the special courts because the people are asking why those known to have committed crimes are still free.

“This is something that the people, as a whole, are very unhappy about.”

It is likely that Dr Mahathir was referring to corruption cases involving Umno leaders, chief among them Najib Razak, whose SRC International Sdn Bhd trial was originally slated to begin on February 12.

The Court of Appeal will deliver on Thursday its verdict on interlocutory applications pertaining to the former prime minister’s seven charges relating to SRC International funds.

Present at the press conference were Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, and National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre director-general Abu Kassim Mohamed.

On reports that a police station chief, Fire and Rescue Department personnel and Kuala Lumpur City Hall officers were among 16 individuals detained by MACC for allegedly running a protection racket for massage premises, Dr Mahathir said he will leave the matter to enforcement agencies.

“We did not discuss it today, but we are aware about such things happening, and we will request that police and MACC investigate, to see whether the case can be put before the courts.”

Asked about the government’s frequent comments on the previous administration’s wrongdoings, he said: “Before this, it wasn’t so bad because people did not dare speak about it. But today, we are discovering these things, past and present. So, it seems to be more common than before.”

He added that Putrajaya will add a song to be sung daily after the national anthem.

“It is called Lagu Malaysia Bersih. We want to instil in civil servants the need to eradicate the culture of corruption, so that we are no longer known as a kleptocracy, but a democracy.”

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun has confirmed that the head of a police station and two cops were arrested by MACC on suspicion of receiving bribes to protect massage parlours.

He said police’s Integrity and Standard Compliance Department is conducting an internal probe.

“We will act against officers and personnel involved in corruption,” he was quoted by Bernama as saying in Kuala Lumpur today. – March 19, 2019.