The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) today clarified that the probe on the distribution of RM300 to several journalists on the eve of the Kuala Terengganu by-election was still ongoing.

Contacted today, the commission's director of investigation Mohd Shukri Abdul said that the matter was being investigated by Terengganu MACC.

Mohd Shukri said this when asked to comment a report in the New Straits Times today which quoted an anonymous MACC official stating that the probe was concluded.

According to the report, the anonymous MACC official said that no investigation paper would be opened as the journalists who allegedly received the money could not identify the giver and the motive for giving the money could not be ascertained.

On Jan 16, two Merdekareview.com journalists covering the Kuala Terengganu by-election lodged a police report with the Terengganu police headquarters after they had received RM300 in white envelopes at the information department media centre.

The media centre staff who allegedly distributed the money was clearly named in one of the police report which was made available to Malaysiakini .

"I don't know the purpose of the money being given to me, but I suspect that it has elements of corruption. I'm making this police report for the police to investigation," said the one of the journalists in her report.

Discourage ‘envelope journalism'

Subsequently, the case was referred to the state MACC which recorded statements both journalists at about 10.40pm the same day for about two and a half hours.

During the incident , at least a dozen journalists were given similar envelopes by a staff at the media centre. Several journalists, including four Malaysiakini journalists who received the envelopes, returned the money to the same media centre staff.

In a related development, National Union of Journalist (NUJ) president Norila Mohd Daud lauded the two journalists for reporting the matter to the authorities.

"It is good that the journalists lodged a report. That shows that journalists cannot be bought. ‘Envelope journalism‘ should be discouraged," said Norila, adding that the MACC should get to the bottom of the matter.