PUTRAJAYA, Feb 3 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has clarified that its role is to seize and recover misappropriated funds, not to manage how the money is subsequently spent.
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Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki explained that while MACC ensures the forfeiture of funds to the government, the responsibility for managing and utilising those assets rests entirely with the Ministry of Finance (MOF).
“In short, our duty is to confiscate and forfeit those funds to the government under the MOF’s jurisdiction. It is not our responsibility to oversee how that money is spent,” he said during a press conference marking the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Federal Territories Department and MACC here today.
Azam was responding to comments by Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim, who had called for greater transparency from MACC and the government regarding the use of RM8.5 billion in forfeited illicit funds.
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“What is important to us is to return the money stolen from the people, back to the people,” he said.
MCW had recently urged the government to publish regular public reports on the use of seized assets, allow independent parliamentary and civil society oversight, and ensure impartial enforcement regardless of rank or status.
-BERNAMA
-MalayMail