Khairy: Cancellation of MACC officers' transfer a positive development

KUALA LUMPUR: Cancelling the transfer of two Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers is the first step in addressing the government's perception crisis, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar said today.
Khairy said aborting the transfer of the two is a positive development and hopes the MACC can continue their duties without fear of intimidation.
MACC Special Operations Division director Datuk Bahri Mohd Zin and Strategic Communications director Datuk Rohaizad Yaakob were given immediate transfer orders on Friday (Aug 7).
Last Monday, Bahri was questioned by police officers from Bukit Aman at the headquarters for about three hours over leaked information involving the special task force probe.
After being interrogated, he told the media that he will find those "who were behind the arrest of the MACC officers".
He was among several MACC officers being questioned by the police over the leaked information - which led to it being posted on social media and whistle-blower website Sarawak Report.
Meanwhile, Rohaizad greeted a group of Opposition leaders and elected representatives at the headquarters, who lent their support for the work the commission is carrying out.
"The news, if true, is a positive development and it will help calm the situation and improve perception of the issue.
"I hope the MACC, not just the two officers, can perform their duties without any threats or intimidation, or any disruption," he told a press conference during the Youth and Sports Ministry's Hari Raya open house here.
Khairy stressed that no enforcement agency is above the law and the police can investigate anyone, but MACC's ability to conduct an independent and thorough investigation should not be compromised.
He also acknowledged that there seems to be a concerted effort to attack the MACC and it is a good move to return the officers to the graft buster.
Khairy added that IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar made a wise choice to stop any further probes against the MACC as civil servants should not be punished for merely doing their jobs.
However, the Umno Youth chief said the police was merely performing its duties to investigate the leak of government information.
Commenting on calls for Minister and Prime Minister's Department Datuk Paul Low's resignation to protest the government's action on MACC, Khairy said the question no longer arises now that the duo's transfer is annulled.
Meanwhile, Khairy agreed with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin that Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) members be appointed immediately to resume investigations against 1MDB.
"If it's possible, we should reestablish the PAC immediately as they were investigating a huge national issue and must not be delayed any longer," he said.