Azam: Steer clear of graft

PUTRAJAYA: Even at the risk of sounding like a broken record, top graft buster Tan Sri Azam Baki (pic) is willing to say it again and again: political parties must be mindful of their activities during the elections to avoid being accused of committing corruption.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said his advice was for all those involved – from candidates to agents, followers, supporters and political parties.

“It is my responsibility as an anti-graft officer, to keep reminding everyone of this.

“If there are complaints, we will act,” he said while launching the use of body cameras for the agency’s enforcement personnel yesterday.

Azam said the MACC had opened operation centres in the six states facing elections and the public could lodge reports on alleged wrongdoings and corruption there.

The MACC headquarters would determine the action based on the information or complaint received, he said.

So far though, no report has been lodged since the operation centres opened on Saturday.

To a question, Azam said there was no need for specific guidelines on giving aid and assistance during elections.

The Election Offences Act 1954, the MACC chief said, clearly spelt out and explained the issues.

“Section 10 of the Act is clear on the dos and don’ts during elections. I don’t think we need to have guidelines for this,” he said.

PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man had called on the MACC to come up with clear guidelines of what constituted bribery in an election.

At a ceramah on Sunday, Tuan Ibrahim was reported to have said MACC should come up with a list of dos and don’ts, adding that there was a need for some consistency on what political parties could do while on the campaign trail.

On July 28, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at an event in Dungun, Terengganu, said he had approved an allocation and urged those attending to vote for the “blue and red wave”.

Ahmad Zahid also said the amount allocated might be increased depending on the results of the Aug 12 polls.

The announcement has since been labelled by some as a form of vote-buying.

However, Azam has said there was no element of corruption in the government awarding grants and that a government initiative was not a form of vote-buying.