MACC and TI-M urge government to review salaries of rank and file officers

PETALING JAYA:The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has urged the government to take a serious look and review the wage and welfare structures of members and officers of enforcement agencies in the country, especially the police.
MACC chief Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad (pix) said that this was a pivotal step for the government to review their salaries to prevent members and officers from succumbing to bribery and abuse of power.
"The MACC feel it is time for the government to seriously look at and review the salary scheme for the members of enforcement agencies in the country so that they do not fall into the temptations of bribery and graft," he said in a statement.
Supporting this notion was Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Akhbar Satar who said that besides the increase of salaries for rank and file officers, housing also must be taken care of.
He added that tighter monitoring of the police force needs to be implemented.
"One of the ways to prevent corruption is to monitor them and look out for red flags, like if they are living beyond their means," he said.
Meanwhile, MACC has backed the appointment of the new Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Mohamad Fuzi Harun saying that the appointment will make the police force better and more powerful.
Dzulkifli, in a statement, congratulated Fuzi who took over the reigns of the force from the outgoing Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
"MACC is confident with Fuzi's appointment, that he will be able to bring changes and reforms to the police force to make it a better and more powerful agency, and at the same time will ensure the police are free from any form of corruption and power abuse.
"MACC also believes he will carry out his responsibilities freely, bravely and with integrity," Dzulkifli said.
He said MACC was also confident that the appointment would further strengthen the cooperation between the two agencies in combating crime in the country.
Fuzi was appointed the new IGP on Monday.