Friday, April 08, 2011

No need for MACC chief to resign, says Nazri

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed (photo) needed not resign from his post although pressured by some quarters to do so, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Aziz."We did not expect the incident to happen and it was not the MACC's wish for it to happen. So, I do not agree with calls for Abu Kassim to resign as it will not solve the problem," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

Nazri was referring to the calls from certain quarters for Abu Kasim to resign from his post or be suspended so as to take responsibility for the death of Selangor Customs Department assistant director Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed, who was found dead on the first floor of the Federal Territory MACC office in Jalan Cockrane, here, yesterday.Ahmad Sarbani was among 62 Customs officers arrested by the MACC in a 3B Operation at 1pm on April 1 at the Customs office in North Port, Port Klang to assist in investigations into cases of corruption, money laundering and other offences. However, he was released on bail on April 2.

It was reported that Ahmad Sarbani was left alone for several minutes in the office of an investigating officer before he was found dead. Police are investigating the case.Nazri stressed that the 3B Operation would continue in the interest of the public and nation although some groups were said would be holding a demonstration over the incident."The important thing is, Ops 3B will go on. We are not bothered if there are people who want to demonstrate ... what is important is (to get back) the money lost due to the wrongdoings of some Customs officers and staff, and we will take action," he said.

Action to be taken against protesters


Asked on what action could be taken if any Customs officer was found participating in the demonstration, Nazri said the authorities would act regardless of who if they had flouted the law.Nazri said the government would also have no problem to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the Customs officer's death if there were demands for it and opinions that the matter was of public interest. "We would also want to clear the MACC's name," he added.

In another development, Nazri received, on behalf of the prime minister, a memorandum from Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali, urging the government to set up a royal commission of inquiry into the sex video recording involving a man who resembled a prominent opposition leader.He also received another memorandum from Perkasa asking the government to also set up a royal commission of inquiry or an inquest into the death of Ahmad Sarbani.

"The Perkasa memorandum on the sex video further supports the argument for the matter to be brought to the cabinet meeting tomorrow, and the one on the Customs officer's death will be studied while waiting for the outcome of the police investigation," said Nazri.



Source- Bernama





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