Azam said anyone suspected of being involved in corruption, regardless of whether they are politicians or journalists, will be investigated accordingly, Harian Metro reported.
On Friday, MACC arrested Malaysiakini journalist B Nantha Kumar for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe from a foreign workers’ agent.
“We have strong grounds to believe that the journalist was involved in corruption as RM20,000 was found in his possession,” Azam said.
“This is not just misconduct. Under corruption laws, it is clear that anyone who accepts a bribe in return for doing or not doing something is committing an offence.
“We always investigate issues related to the entry of foreign nationals into the country, including any allegations linked to corruption and misconduct.”
Asked whether Nantha had received other bribes before being arrested, Azam said MACC is still investigating the matter.
He was responding to PAS’s call for MACC to prioritise investigations related to corruption allegations involving foreign workers’ agents and immigration officers at the country’s entry points, rather than arresting Nantha for allegedly soliciting and receiving a bribe from an agent.
Yesterday, Azam told Malaysiakini that Nantha allegedly solicited RM100,000 from a foreign workers’ agent in exchange for not publishing two articles concerning the agent, with the sum eventually reduced to RM20,000.
The agent lodged a report with MACC, after which the anti-graft agency arranged for the agent to meet the journalist at a hotel in Selangor, where the cash was handed over and Nantha arrested.
Nantha has been remanded for four days and is being investigated for soliciting and receiving bribes under Section 16(a)(a) of the MACC Act 2009.
In a statement released later in the day, MACC said it received a complaint regarding a journalist from a local news portal who is suspected of soliciting and receiving a bribe in exchange for removing an article, and for not continuing to expose a foreign workers’ agency alleged to be involved in a syndicate.