KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 25 (Reuters) – A key party in Malaysia’s ruling coalition called on Wednesday for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) to be formed to investigate misconduct allegations against the country’s anti-graft agency.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and its chief have been the focus of a public outcry following multiple media reports earlier this month accusing it of misconduct and breaching public service laws, among other allegations.
Bloomberg reported that MACC officials were helping a group of businessmen to seize control of companies. Reuters has not independently verified the report, which cited internal documents and interviews with witnesses.
MACC said the allegations were “baseless”, saying in a statement on Tuesday that they were an attempt to discredit its investigations and enforcement actions within the corporate sector.
However, the Democratic Action Party, a key member of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, said it will push for an inquiry into the allegations, calling MACC’s denial “insufficient”.
“There must be an inquiry into the allegations made and that inquiry ought to be by way of an RCI equipped with all those powers necessary to ensure an effective and transparent probe into the matter,” DAP national chairman Gobind Singh Deo, who is also a cabinet minister, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The DAP’s leader, Anthony Loke, who is also transport minister, said he would propose the formation of the RCI during Friday’s cabinet meeting, local media reported on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Anwar’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The government formed a special committee earlier this month to investigate the MACC’s chief following a separate media report alleging a breach of shareholding laws.
(Reporting by Danial Azhar; Editing by David Stanway)
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