The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), often criticised for being slow and inefficient in its investigations, may be restructured so that it can clear its backlog of cases.

The Prime Minister's Department, which has jurisdiction over the ACA, said this in a written reply to Lim Hock Seng (DAP-Bagan), a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini today.

He had asked the department to state the measures being taken to ensure that the ACA is "pro-active, competent and transparent" in dealing with complaints.

The PM's Department said the proposal is currently being studied by the Public Service Department.

Among the recommendations are to increase ACA manpower and the number of branches nationwide.

More officials will be sent for 'in-house' training courses, including components on information communication technology and financial management.

"This is to enable the officials to enhance their IT knowledge in carrying out their job," the department said.

The ACA will seek the cooperation of Universiti Teknologi Mara and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia in conducting courses.

The department also said the ACA had initiated investigations into complaints of malpractice by acting on tip-offs, but that its ability to pursue cases depends on the quality of information gathered.

The agency does not have to wait for police reports or public complaints to carry out investigations, it added..

Perwaja scandal

In another written reply to Ramli Ibrahim (Keadilan-Kota Bharu), the department said the ACA was still probing the Perwaja Steel scandal, including efforts to obtain evidence and documents from Japan.

The department said the government has no plans to present a White Paper in the Dewan Rakyat for the issue to be debated, as the matter is still under investigation.

The protracted investigations have led to such countries as Switzerland to date. However, the PM's Department said there are inevitable difficulties because the ACA has to comply with the laws of different countries in gathering information and interviewing witnesses.

In March, de facto law minister Dr Rais Yatin revealed that the Japanese banking authorities had refused to co-operate with ACA officers on this matter.

This resulted in the agency being unable to "penetrate several areas" in the investigation although probes into Hong Kong and Switzerland connections have been completed, he added.

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