MACC arrests married couple over computerised driving test bribery

JOHOR BAHRU - The Johor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested a married couple believed to have accepted bribes to enable candidates to pass the computerised driver's licence test.

According to sources, the duo were an administrative manager and a marketing manager of a driving licence centre who were arrested at the Johor MACC Office at about 7pm on Monday to assist in the investigation.

The source added that the male and female suspects, aged 47 and 43 respectively, were arrested following the arrest of three other suspects for accepting bribes from candidates for the computerised driver's licence test on Sunday.

It is understood that bribes amounting from RM400 to RM1,000 were paid to individuals who wanted to pass the driving test without having to sit for the test and attend driving classes.

Johor MACC director Datuk Azmi Alias when contacted confirmed the arrest and said the case was investigated under Section 16 (a)(A) of the MACC Act 2009.

Azmi also reminded that every candidate was required to take the test to obtain a driver's licence and to learn and understand the rules and laws of the road.

"The company conducting the computerised test also needs to ensure that every candidate who sits the test is present, not represented by any other individual and that there are no shortcuts in obtaining this driver's licence because it involves the lives of other road users," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

Earlier on Monday, the MACC in its statement said that two customer service officers at the Government Electronic Website Interactive Network (RILEK) Kota Tinggi Branch and a clerk at the Driving Licence Centre were arrested for accepting bribes.

Sources said the three female suspects aged between 23 and 34 were arrested at the Johor MACC Office at about 9pm on Sunday after an operation carried out in collaboration with a concession company for the government's main application.

All the suspects were believed to have received bribes from candidates who attended the Part 1 Computerised Driving Licence test to help the candidates pass the test.