He said MAC carries out operations against all forms of corruption in society as a whole, and therefore, said the fight was against corruption in government, business and politics.

“The advisory board wishes to emphasise that MACC is not against the police; it is like most of the rest of us against corruption in national life,” he said in a statement today.

Tunku Aziz said the board, at its monthly meeting on May 29, gave its support to the ongoing MACC crackdown on police officers who were suspected of protecting operators of illegal gambling and vice dens.

He said the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board expects similar crackdowns in other parts of the country where such illegal activities had been reported to be rampant, while it also fully encouraged MACC to extend their investigations to the highest level of the police hierarchy, without fear or favour.

Tunku Aziz also urged members of the public, who were aware of partnerships in crime between law enforcement officers and operators of illegal gambling and vice dens, to report what they knew to MACC.

He added that while there might be some bad apples in the force, there were thousands of other men and women in blue who were carrying out their duties in strict observance of their oath of service.

“The overwhelming majority of the police force is outraged by the action of their corrupt brother officers and are ashamed of belonging to a force whose reputation has been irreversibly damaged by the corrupt few.

“To those of them who remain steadfast in rejecting corruption, we owe them our gratitude,” he said.

He said the board also expressed appreciation to the chief justice for taking a keen personal interest in ensuring corruption cases were handled as expeditiously as possible, with due care and attention.