MACC declares Penang Education Department free from graft

GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has declared the Penang Education Department to be free from graft following allegations and reports of abuse by the public.
MACC Penang director Datuk Abdul Aziz Aban said the commission received 29 reports on allegations of graft and abuse of power within the department from the public from 2015 to 2017.
He said investigations were carried out and the results revealed no elements of wrong-doing or graft in the department.
“The department is free from corruption as of now," he said in a press conference today after witnessing Education Department officials taking a corruption free pledge.
Abdul Aziz however declined to comment when asked about investigations into allegations surrounding the Yayasan Bumiputera Pulau Pinang and the Pusat Urus Zakat (PUZ) Pulau Pinang.
In his speech earlier, Abdul Aziz said the MACC in Penang has caught 45 people for graft as of May 28 this year.
He said 22 of those detained were civil servants, 15 from the private sector and the remaining were from the public sector.
Abdul Aziz also shared that he was once involved in an operation to detain nine educators, including a headmaster, in a case at another state.
He said civil educators could be involved in wrong doing through misappropriating donations, using funds to benefit themselves or awarding supply contracts to factories owned by their wives or husbands.
He also urged civil servants to adhere to the rules and regulations governing the civil service by reporting and detaining those who offered them bribes in the course of their duties.
In his speech meanwhile, Penang Education director Shaari Osman said the department will investigate all information received, whether through formal channels or through “surat layang” (poison pen letters).
He said any questionable elements uncovered during the probe will be passed on to the MACC for further action.
“I will ensure all complaints are investigated and will pass on information to the MACC.
“As the Education Department, we have to be role models for schoolchildren,” he added.