The Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) is one of the five independent monitoring bodies of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) established under Section 13 of the MACC Act 2009 (Act 694) and its members are appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
As the Chairman of the ACAB, I held a discussion together with six other members and unanimously agreed that the ACAB takes seriously the issue of case withdrawal involving certain individuals during ongoing trials.
In this case, the ACAB is unflinching in its stand in order to maintain the image, credibility and integrity of the MACC. Regarding the withdrawal of the case against former FELDA Board Member, Datuk Noor Ehsanuddin Mohd Harun Narrashid, the ACAB has obtained the views from the MACC Chief Commissioner and the Senior Director of the MACC Legal and Prosecution Division.
The ACAB takes notice that the case withdrawal was based on new facts from further investigations after the accused submitted his representation and statement of defence under Section 62 of the MACC Act 2009 during the trial.
However, ACAB views that there are elements of shortcomings in the investigation and the decision of the prosecution in early February 2019 by the Attorney General as well as the management and administration of the MACC that was made at that time without thorough consideration. Because action was taken in a manner that was not transparent, unprofessional and based more on political interest thus, the current MACC management had to bear the consequences.
I and all the members of the MACC ACAB committee do not want the MACC to be politicised by any party. We do not want to keep repeating the mistakes and weaknesses that had occured before. The current Check & Balance principles must be implemented wisely, transparently and responsibly as well as with full integrity.
YBHG. TAN SRI ABU ZAHAR UJANG
CHAIRMAN
THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ADVISORY BOARD
8TH SEPTEMBER 2021