PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan pointed out that private sector corruption is far more serious than that in the public sector.

He said the private sector was most likely to get involved in acts of corruption and bribery in areas such as procurement, tenders, bank loans, acquisition and renewal of contracts.

He said it has been shown that some individuals offered bank staff 10% commission when applying for loans, and later disappeared and even defaulted on the loans.

Ahmad Said Hamdan said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that MACC's mission is to wipe out corruption in both the private and public sectors, adding that only a country free from corruption could create a clean and incorrupt image in the international community.

The Malaysian Anti-corruption Commission (MACC) began its operation officially on 1 January this year. Ahmad Said is its first commissioner.

"We have received plenty of corruption reports from the private sector, and have arrested many individuals. We apprehended a total of 602 people last year, 323 of whom were from the private sector.

"Many people place their anti-corruption focus on the public sector. As a matter of fact, corruption is far more rampant in the private sector."

On the "corruption trends" of different ethnic groups, he said anyone in power, whatever race he is from, can get involved in corruption as long as he is "greedy for money."

Ahmad Said pointed out that many people used to think that most of those involved in corruption are Chinese, which is not true, as anyone who has the power will want to have more money.

On whether the MACC will step in to investigate on the queries arising from the recent declassification of 22 highway contracts in the country, Ahmad Said said the commission would closely follow up public consensus on this matter.

"Provided that complaints are filed by the public, we will step in and investigate."

He said unless there are people questioning the rationality of the highway contracts, they are but ordinary business deals that shouldn't have any problem at all. (By HOU YALUN, YU MIYE/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)