JOHOR BARU: The Prime Minister has been urged to investigate accusations made by a professor against a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) top official.

       Umno supreme council member Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zakarshi said Prof Dr Edmund Terence Gomez’s sudden resignation from MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel had raised concerns about the commission’s integrity.

       Yesterday, Puad spoke of three concerns following Gomez’s resignation.

       “Firstly, is the MACC capable of being an agency that can fight corruption fairly, transparently and effectively?

       “And what is the issue that led to the resignation? Is the ‘business’ and ‘conflict of interest’ involving top MACC officers true and well-founded?” he asked.

       Lastly, he questioned whether MACC was “untouchable”.

       In a statement, Puad said the Prime Minister should intervene if all other parties remained silent.

       Rasuah Buster’s secretariat chief Nurhayati Nordin said in a statement that conflicts of interests were ethical issues that must be addressed, especially when it involved a senior MACC officer.

       She said Gomez’s resignation showed that the public would no longer compromise on any unethical conduct by institutions given the responsibility of ensuring the justice and democratic systems in this country remain effective.

       “Conflicts of interests are no small matter that we can turn a blind eye to and be part of the normal way of life in the ‘vicious cycle’.

       “However, conflicts of interests that are not resolved can lead to the degradation of procedure, affair management, and the misuse of positions brought about by personal interest.

       “To ensure MACC or any other body can function as intended, this must be avoided,” she said.

       The MACC, she said, should state their stance publicly to placate doubts from the people.

       “Admitting to mistakes and taking responsibility for it is a form of integrity.

       “However, the uncertainty must be addressed and what has been damaged, fixed,” she said.

       Gomez was appointed to the MACC panel last year. His term was due to end on May 31, 2022, but he quit on Monday.

       He wrote to panel chairman Datuk Seri Borhan Dolah, saying that his resignation was in protest over what he felt was inaction against a MACC top official.

       He alleged that the officer has an investment interest in a public listed company.

       Gomez noted that he had written to Borhan on Nov 12 and 26, including giving information that he had obtained about the alleged business links to the officer’s family.However, Borhan was quoted in a news portal as saying that Gomez’s two emails made no mention of any wrongdoings of the senior officer, adding that the professor had sought for meetings to discuss ways to improve MACC’s image.

       “I responded by saying that this would be considered,” he said, adding that he had in fact contacted the MACC secretariat for its views as the issue was out of the panel’s jurisdiction.