Interpol to train graft busters

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PUTRAJAYA: Malaysian graft busters will be the only anti-corruption personnel in the world to be trained by Interpol following a landmark collaboration agreement between the Malaysian Anti-Corrup-tion Commission Academy (Maca) and the international police organisation.

The co-operation is sought, among others, to establish and strengthen collaborative efforts on anti-corruption and training initiatives and to promote a formal channel of communication between both parties to ensure a rapid exchange of ideas and information.

MACC commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan stressed that the fight against corruption must be dynamic, evidence-based, integrated and holistic.

“Corruption is no longer a local matter to contain. It has become a global issue. With globalisation and the world now being borderless where every country is doing business with every other country, unchecked corruption can pose a threat to integrity in all countries, thus giving a new meaning to the term cross-border corruption.

Signed and sealed: Sheehan exchanging documents with Samarajoo in Putrajaya Monday. Looking on (from left) are Abu Kassim, Liew and Ahmad.

“Therefore we must enhance the capacity and capability of anti-corruption enforcement officers. Orga-nisations like Interpol can play their role by working together with Maca to develop effective training programmes and to disseminate knowledge on best practices,” he said at the signing of the MoU yesterday.

Maca director M. Samarajoo and Interpol’s director of police training and development Dale Sheehan signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations.

Witnessing the event was Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Liew Vui Keong.

Sheehan said this was the sole collaboration that Interpol had with an anti-graft agency, adding that the academic partnership would see both Interpol and the academy build and strengthen several international training programmes on anti-corruption.

“Transnational crime has no borders and it is truly a pleasure and honour to be working closely with Maca,” he said.

Sheehan said MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Moha-med was a long-standing member of Interpol’s group of experts on corruption.

Interpol, the world’s biggest international police organisation, was established in 1923. It has 188 member countries.

On Umno’s move to change its constitution to fight money politics, Ahmad Said said it was a step in the right direction towards fighting corrupt practices not only within the organisation but also in the country.

Each organisation, whether political or otherwise, should ensure there was no room for such negative activities, he said.

“We are proud that Umno has taken the initiative and will support them in their endeavour to ensure the party is corrupt-free,” he said.

At the just-concluded Umno annual general assembly, the delegates passed amendments to the party constitution which would subsequently enable more members to vote for their leaders.

This means that 146,500 Umno members will have the chance to pick their party leaders instead of the 2,500 delegates.

“What Umno is doing is good but we at MACC still have our role and responsibility. There is no fullstop in our fight against graft,” he said.