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Tuesday, 9 February 2010

MACC To Set Up Special Unit For High-Profile Cases

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- To gain the people's trust, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will set up a special unit to focus on investigating high-profile cases.

Its operations review panel chairman, Tan Sri Dr Hadenan Abdul Jalil, said the cases, usually related to the public sector, would be wrapped up within six months.

He said the MACC was currently awaiting approval from the Public Services Department to set up the unit.

Hadenan said this after chairing the panel's quarterly-year meeting with MACC here on Monday.

On the commission's overall success, he said the panel was happy with its performance, adding that the staff worked to the best of their professional abilities.

Hadenan noted that out of 939 cases opened last year, there was sufficient evidence to take 633 cases or 70 per cent to court while 133 cases were closed due to insufficient evidence or the witnesses having turned hostile.

He said the rest of the cases were under investigation.

On witnesses who turned hostile, Hadenan felt they should be given the maximum penalty under the law.

"In the past, there were many cases thrown out by the court because the witnesses turned hostile and the MACC took action on certain people who did this.

"We would like to send the message that if you turn hostile, you will suffer for it," he said.

Earlier at the meeting, Hadenan said, the panel was briefed by MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed on, among others things, strategies and challenges faced by the commission.

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