The Star - Nov 4, 2008

Nine politicians investigated for bribery

ALOR STAR: The state Anti-Corruption Agency has opened investigation files on nine politicians in Kedah.
Its director Nooraziah Abd Manaf said that the cases were reported to the agency last month.

She said that the agency received reports from members of a political party that the politicians had bribed party members for votes during the recent party election.

“The members claimed that they saw so-and-so receiving a bribe but our investigation came to a halt because the members refused to testify against the politicians,” she said.

However Nooraziah refused to name the politicians and their party.
She said that the nine cases are among 51 investigation files that have been opened by the agency between January and Nov 3 this year.

She said during the same period the agency had received 736 tip-offs regarding bribery and criminal breach of trust cases.
Nooraziah said this after the handover of duties from former director Idrus Jaafar. Idrus has been appointed to lead the Penang ACA.

The handing over ceremony was witnessed by ACA deputy director-general ll Datuk Zakaria Jaffar.
During the same press conference, Zakaria said that the agency plans to build a state ACA Complex at Jalan Suka Menanti.
He said that the agency has identified a 6.31ha of land for the purpose.

“We will propose for an allocation to build the complex under the 10th Malaysia Plan,” he said.