ANYONE can lodge a police report if they feel information about an Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation has been leaked, Deputy Law and Institutional Reform Minister Ramkarpal Singh told the Dewan Rakyat today. 

“If there is a leak, this can be dealt with by making a police report and the matter will be investigated further,” the Bukit Gelugor lawmaker told Parliament today during the Minister’s Question Time. 

He was responding to a supplementary question from Wan Saiful Wan Jan (Tasek Gelugor-PN), who asked how the government plans to combat anonymous information leaks to the press by unnamed sources.

Wan Saiful said there has been a “flood” of selective leaks made to the press by unnamed sources.

He asked if this was an intentional move by the MACC.

On June 8, Law and Institutional Reform Minister Azalina Othman Said said leaks from anonymous sources allegedly within the MACC are in no way related to official statements issued by the MACC or its official spokesman.

Azalina said the MACC Act 2009 prohibits any information on the agency’s investigations from being revealed until charges are filed in court.

The MACC has been investigating Bersatu over its alleged misuse of public funds, while party president and former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been charged with corruption.

MACC has seized Bersatu’s accounts, which the party is challenging in court.

Wan Saiful was questioned by the MACC and later charged with soliciting and accepting RM6. 9 million in bribes linked to the Jana Wibawa project. 

Ramkarpal said the proposal to place the MACC under the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC) is being scrutinised. 

“A note was submitted to the cabinet on April 19 to discuss the direction of the MACC’s absorption in the EAIC. A pro-tem committee was established.

“On May 2, a meeting chaired by the law and institutional reform minister was also attended by the EAIC commissioner, MACC (representatives), and the attorney-general (for their) views on the issues raised,” he said.

Ramkarpal was answering an oral question from Dzulkefly Ahmad (Kuala Selangor-PH), who asked about the government’s plans to place the MACC under the EAIC. – June 14, 2023.