KENINGAU: A total of 545 individuals, or 43.4 per cent of the 1,257 people detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from January to October this year, were civil servants, said MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki.

He revealed that these arrests included nine from senior management, 181 from professional management, and 357 from the executive or support level.

"The remaining 712 individuals, or 56.6 per cent, were from the private sector and the general public," he told reporters after the launch of the MACC Keningau branch office at Federal House here today.

Also present was Sabah MACC director Datuk Karunanithy Y Subbiah.

Azam said that the offences committed by civil servants included bribery, submitting false claims, abuse of power, and money laundering (AMLA) cases.

He said that arrests of civil servants across the country remained high, with nearly 50 per cent of those detained being from the public sector.

"If we want to say that corruption among civil servants has reduced, it should ideally be under 40 per cent and continue to decrease each year. However, it appears that corruption issues involving civil servants still require more thorough, clear, and effective action," he added.

On the new MACC Keningau branch office, Azam said that it was established to expand services and provide easier access for the local community to report issues and seek assistance.

"I hope that the people in this district and rural areas are now aware of the issues at hand and encourage them to approach MACC officers directly. There's no need to send emails, WhatsApp messages, or rely on social media. It's much easier to get clearer explanations when meeting with my officers in person," he said.

"I assure them that if the information pertains to corruption, we will protect their identity unless they wish to make a public complaint," he added.

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/11/1132028/civil-servant-arrests-remain-alarmingly-high-says-macc-chief