The Malaysian Insight

BARISAN Nasional has submitted a partial list of its candidates in the 14th general election to the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) for vetting, with more names to come, Umno president Najib Razak said.

Only BN parties have submitted the names to MACC, he said after chairing the Umno Supreme Council meeting tonight.

“Some names are already with the MACC and we will be submit an additional list of names once we confirm them as candidates.

“We already have the names of potential candidates but we have not confirmed them,” Najib, who who is also BN chairman and prime minister, said.

Early this week, MACC asked political parties for the names of their candidates in the next general election.

The anti-corruption body said that while the parties were not required by law to obey its request, vetting would ensure that the candidates were not guilty of corruption and abuse of power.

MACC chief Dzulifli Ahmad offered the assurance that the findings of the vetting would be confidential.

PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had questioned MACC’s motive in asking to vet the election candidates while PAS has rejected the request outright.

At today’s press conference Najib reiterated that next year’s budget would include an allocation for the upgrade of tahfiz schools in light of the recent fire tragedy in a religious school in Datuk Keramat.

“The supreme council hopes that the government will act and give priority to safety issues for students in tahfiz schools.

“Other things such as the criminal aspect (of the fire) can be looked at later. The government will announce something for the tahfiz schools at the budget,” he said.

Najib will table Budget 2018 in Parliament on October 27.

Najib also confirmed that the 71st Umno’s General Assembly will take place on December 5. – September 29, 2017.