GEORGE TOWN, Nov 21 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has opened eight investigation papers against civil servants between 2020 and 2022, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow told the state legislative assembly today.

He said the investigation papers were related to graft, abuse of power and embezzlement.

"The state government is open to any investigations related to graft and abuse of power involving state exco, assemblymen and state civil servants,” he said in reply to a question by opposition assemblyman Mohd Yusni Mat Piah (PAS-Penaga).

Mohd Yusni had asked about the number of cases filed by MACC against the state exco, assemblymen or civil servants in Penang out of the 919 complaints against Penang civil servants that the anti-graft agency had allegedly received.

Chow said the state disciplinary board can take action, including suspension from duty if there were any criminal investigations involving a civil servant in the state government.

"The state government will also take action on any MACC report once a full report is received from the MACC involving an exco, assemblyman, or civil servant if the case was not convicted in court,” he said.

He stressed that the state government will not hide anything from the MACC in its investigations into any cases.

He said his office issued a statement on September 30 to inform that the state is open to any investigations by the MACC against any civil servant in the state.

He stressed that as per the state’s principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT), no one is above the law.

"Any civil servant involved in graft cases must be investigated and prosecuted accordingly,” he said.

The statement was issued in response to remarks by MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki that MACC had received a total of 919 complaints against civil servants in Penang for alleged corruption since 2019.