MACC clarifies role is to recover funds, not monitor spending

MACC chief says agency’s duty is to seize and forfeit illicit funds to the government, not oversee how the Ministry of Finance spends the money.

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has clarified that its role is to seize and recover misappropriated funds, not to oversee how they are subsequently spent.

Chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said his agency secures the forfeiture of funds to the government, but the subsequent management is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance (MOF).

“In short, our duty is to confiscate and forfeit those funds to the government under the MOF’s purview. It is not our responsibility to ensure where that money is spent,” he said at a press conference.

He was commenting on a call by Malaysian Corruption Watch (MCW) for transparency regarding the use of RM8.5 billion in forfeited illicit funds.

“What is important to us is to return the money stolen from the people, back to the people,” Azam said.

MCW had recently urged the government to issue regular public reports on seized asset use and subject it to independent monitoring.