PM HAPPY PARLIAMENT PASSES MACC BILL

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi has expressed his happiness that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) Bill was passed by the Dewan Rakyat (Lower House of Parliament)
Tuesday.

"Alhamdullillah," the Prime Minister said at a briefing with editors at
Parliament House here.

The Lower House sitting Tuesday passed the bill with a minor amendment to
Clause 36(1)(b), to amend the word Public Prosecutor to Commission
Officer.

Abdullah said the adoption of the MACC represented his desire to fulfil the
promises contained in the Barisan Nasional (BN) manisfesto during the 2004
general election.

He hoped the MACC would function more effectively than the Anti-Corruption
Agency (ACA) because it would have more than 5,000 staff who would be trained in
the various aspects of preventing corruption.

He said a more attractive salary package would also be offered to woo more
credible and capable people to serve in the MACC.
-- BERNAMA