M'SIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION BILL PASSED

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The government will stick to its decision
not to place the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) under Parliament as
it fears the possibility of favouritism arising if a member of the august House
is charged for corruption.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said
ever since the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) the
government had never allowed the entity to be placed under Parliament.

"We also have no intention at all to place the MACC under Parliament
because an individual may not be found guilty based on his popularity in the
Dewan (Rayat). It's also possible that a popular member of Parliament will not
be found guilty because of his popularity in the Dewan (Rakyat)," he said when
winding up the debate on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Bill
2008 at the Dewan Rakyat (Lower House of Parliament) Tuesday.

On the proposal that the power of prosecution be placed under the Chief
Commissioner instead of the Public Prosecutor to ensure the independence of the
Commission, Mohamed Nazri said the government had no intention to make any
amendment on the matter as it concerned Article 145 of the Federal Constitution
where the power to initiate prosecution lie with the Attorney-General.

The Lower House later passed the Bill with a minor amendment to Clause
36(1)(b), to amend the word Public Prosecutor to Commission Officer.
-- BERNAMA