PETALING JAYA – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has questioned six witnesses in its investigation of a journalist accused of soliciting and accepting a bribe, with two more witnesses set to be summoned soon. MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki stated that the probe, conducted under Section 16(A)(a) of the MACC Act, is nearing completion. This section addresses the offense of soliciting or receiving bribes.
“We are wrapping up the investigation and will be recording statements from additional witnesses to finalize our findings,” Azam told Voice Asia News.
Last Saturday, Azam confirmed the arrest of Malaysiakini journalist B. Nantha Kumar, who was detained on Friday night for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe from a foreign worker agent. Azam dismissed claims that the arrest was linked to Malaysiakini’s recent article about a foreign worker trafficking cartel. Instead, he alleged that Nantha had demanded RM100,000 from the agent in exchange for withholding two articles about him, though the sum was later reduced to RM20,000.
The agent subsequently lodged a report with the MACC, leading to a sting operation that resulted in Nantha’s arrest. Nantha was released on bail yesterday after Malaysiakini executive editor RK Anand posted the RM10,000 bail on his behalf.