Nazri: Use your guns if needed

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) personnel have been told to brace themselves for the worst in the wake of a molotov cocktail attack today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said they should not hesitate to use their weapons if the need arose.

He was asked to comment on the incident this morning where a vehicle belonging to Selangor MACC was firebombed in Klang.

Nazri said this was an attempt to intimidate the offers from discharging their duty.

"I am concerned with MACC personnel's security. So the officers who are equipped with weapons can use them (when in danger)," he told reporters in Putrajaya.

"We have no fear, we have to make sure such things never happen again," he said.

Nazri also said MACC officers can employ a certain degree of force when a suspect or witness refused to follow them to the watchdog’s office for investigation.

"We can do that because it is stated in the (MACC) Act, and the provision is still in use. We cannot obstruct any officer from performing their duty," he said.

Lashes out at S'gor MB

Nazri also lashed out a circular issued by Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim last month stating that all state government officers and staff cannot be interviewed by MACC officers outside their respective offices.

The decision was made by the state executive council following the death of DAP political aide Teoh Beng Hock on July 16.

Nazri said Khalid, being the menteri besar, should know that he is the government rather than the opposition now.

"It is now his duty to assist MACC in their investigations. Does he think he's a saint?" he asked.

On another matter, Nazri said MACC was not required to justify its decision to reopen graft investigations against former Penang deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin.

He was responding to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who had demanded an exaplanation.

In April, MACC had cleared Fairus (left) against any wrongdoings, after he was forced to resign from his position as both deputy chief minister and Penanti assemblyperson.

"Why would we want to divulge the information on the investigation to the public? Lim should know MACC can use the provision under the act to maintain confidentiality.

"Besides, he is not the one who has been feeding the information to MACC. He has no right to know anything about the investigation," said Nazri.

He also denied that MACC had reopened the case with the intention of tarnishing Pakatan's image since the Permatang Pasir by-election is just around the corner.