MACCs role not to interpret law, says chief

March 31, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, March 31 MACC chief Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed said today that the role of the anti-graft body was only to investigate corruption cases and not interpret the law.Abu Kassim refused to entertain a recent statement by Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) and stressed that he can only comment on facts.The anti-graft watchdog said yesterday that any type of election handouts to voters is a form of corruption.TI-M also criticised the Election Commission (EC) for failing to ensure free and fair elections in the country.We only investigate corruption case. Whoever thinks that there is corruption then they can just refer to us and we will investigate. I do not interpret the law.I dont want to go to the polemic, I go on the facts. For me, I am just an investigator who just investigates any corruption complaints, he told reporters during a press conference.Nazri yesterday refuted TI-Ms views on election handouts, citing a legal case to back up his arguments.The minister had pointed out that a 1981 court case had ruled that it was not an offence but in line with the responsibility of the government to ensure development and allocate funds regardless of whether there was an election.Nazri was referring to the legal precedent established in the case involving the Pengkalan Kota by-election between Teoh Teik Huat and Lim Kean Siew.The case revolved around a statement by then-finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had said he would personally give more money for the improvement of Pengkalan Kota if Barisan Nasional (BN) won.The minister in the Prime Ministers Department had also told Parliament that handouts and goodies in the form of financial assistance to voters during elections was not a form of corruption because it was the federal governments way of fulfilling its promises and manifestos.Nazri also expressed surprise over TI-Ms allegation the Election Commission (EC) had failed to show that they were independent in carrying out its duties even though they wer! e guaran teed autonomy under the Federal Constitution.