THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has received 22 complaints on corruption, power abuse and embezzlement since the movement control order (MCO) came into force on March 18.

It received 286 tip-offs during the same period.

MACC said it detained three people over two cases of attemped bribery of officers enforcing the MCO.

 “In the first case, two Pakistani nationals were arrested in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah for trying to bribe the authorities with RM7,000 to avoid being charged for smuggling cigarettes through a roadblock,” it said today in a statement.

“In the second case, a trader was arrested for allegedly offering RM500 as a bribe to enforcement officers in Kluang, Johor in an attempt to avoid being charged for unlawfully opening his business premises without approval.”

MACC said the cases showed that illegal activities such as smuggling continued to take place under MCO.
 
It said such illegal activities led to corruption.

MACC congratulated the frontliners enforcing the MCO on their resistance to inducements.
 
“MACC will continue to conduct investigations even under limited circumstances in accordance with the MCO’s standard operating procedure guildelines.”

The commission said its offices across the country will remain open and manned by with a rotating roster of minimal staff  to take action on complaints and tip-offs. – April 22, 2020.