KUALA LUMPUR, March 2 – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has denied allegations of bias in its ongoing investigation into a Malaysiakini reporter accused of soliciting a bribe. MACC Chief Tan Sri Azam Bakistated that the commission acts impartially, investigating corruption cases regardless of profession, including journalists, politicians, and public officials.
He emphasized that the case was based on the MACC Act 2009, and the reporter was found with RM20,000 in cash, allegedly an advance from an initial RM100,000 bribe request to remove a news article about a foreign worker agency. Responding to criticism from PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Azam reaffirmed that the MACC is actively investigating corruption within immigration services, having previously arrested 50 enforcement officerslinked to a syndicate.
The reporter was detained at a Shah Alam hotel on February 28 and remains in custody under a four-day remand until March 4.
