Malaysia's MACC Reinforces International Cooperation Through ASEAN-Italy Anti-Corruption Programme

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) reinforced its international cooperation against corruption and cross-border crime through the recent participation of its officer, Mohd Iqbal Mohd Zain, in the Rosario Livatino integrity and anti-corruption programme in Rome.

In a statement on Thursday, MACC clarified that the ASEAN-Italy initiative aims to reinforce the rule-of-law culture, promote integrity-based approaches, and enhance regional cooperation mechanisms between ASEAN member states and Italian counterparts in anti-corruption and anti-money laundering efforts.

"The programme is expected to enhance regional capabilities in combating corruption, money laundering and cross-border crime through professional networking and continuous expertise exchange between ASEAN and Italy," said the commission. 

MACC confirmed that Mohd Iqbal is currently seconded to the Independent Police Conduct Commission (IPCC) under Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs.

In the same statement, Mohd Iqbal reported that participants were introduced to Italy's anti-corruption framework, best practices, international cooperation instruments, as well as preventive and enforcement approaches in combating transnational crime.

According to him, the training panel comprised senior officials from Italy's Ministry of Justice, Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the National Anti-Corruption Authority (ANAC).

Mohd Zain was among 12 law enforcement officers from eight ASEAN countries selected for the training.

The prestigious programme was a collaboration between the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime and Italy's Judicial and Security Diplomacy initiative.

It was led by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Directorate-General for Global Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of the Interior's Department of Public Security. 

Held from Nov 17 to 21, the programme was named in honour of the late Italian Judge Rosario Livatino, who was murdered by a Sicilian mafia group in 1990 while investigating organised crime.

The naming carries symbolic significance, representing courage and the ongoing fight against cross-border corruption and organised crime.

-- BERNAMA