Money Politic is JUST an ethical issue?

Our newly appointed chief of the Malaysia Anti Corruption Commission is in the news again.

Would you, Sir, advise us, the layman the definition of "criminal in nature"?

Based on your explanation, can we assume that any wrong doing listed in the codes of ethics of any political parties, even if it is a crime, will be considered as NOT CRIMINAL IN NATURE?

If we expand further, can we conclude that if any political parties listing MURDER as breach of codes of ethics, then the enforcement or investigation should not be carried out since it is a breach of ethics therefore should be "NOT CRIMINAL IN NATURE"?

I admire your courage, Sir, for the statement you've made.

I salute you!

MACC: Breach of ethics not "criminal in nature"

(Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today they are not involved in investigations pertaining to political parties' ethics as a breach of discipline or ethics "is not criminal in nature".

Its chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan said this when asked to comment on calls by opposition parties that the MACC investigate Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam who was barred from contesting in party elections after he was found guilty of money politics.

"We welcome anyone who wants to make a report but we must be able to differentiate that a breach of party ethics and discipline is not criminal in nature," he said.

He said the MACC investigations director Datuk Shukri Abdullah was still awaiting reports if there were criminal elements in the case being acted on by the Umno Dis0ciplinary Board recently.

On another matter, he said the MACC will record statements from several more Perak assemblymen pertaining to the suspension of Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and six executive council members from attending the state legislative assembly.

Ahmad Said said their statements would be crucial to the investigations on the matter.

Asked whether the assemblymen were from the Barisan Nasional or the opposition pact, he said, "We will also call those from the BN if necessary."

He was speaking to reporters after attending the commission's event with the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, here today.

Yesterday, the MACC recorded the statements of four members of the Perak rights and privileges committee, namely Loke Chee Yan (Kepayang assemblyman), Ong Boon Piow (Tebing Tinggi), Sum Cheok Leng (Bercham) and Chan Ming Kai (Simpang Pulai).

Another committee member, Husin Din (Selinsing), was question by the MACC on March 17 while Speaker V. Sivakumar had his statement recorded on Feb 26.

Asked on their statements, Ahmad Said said the process was to establish whether there were elements of abuse of power in the suspension of Zambry and his six executive council members.

"To us, there seem to be so, that is why we carry out the investigations in the first place," he said.