ALOR STAR - MALAYSIA'S Anti-Corruption Agency is investigating nine politicians in Kedah for alleged bribery. Its director Nooraziah Abd Manaf said that the cases were reported to the agency last month.

She said that the agency received reports from members of a political party that the politicians had bribed party members for votes during the recent party election.

'The members claimed that they saw so and so receiving a bribe but our investigation came to a halt because the members refused to testify against the politicians', she said.

But she refused to name the politicians and their party. She said that the nine cases are among 51 investigation files that have been opened by the agency between January and Nov 3 this year.

She said during the same period the agency had received 736 tip-offs regarding bribery and criminal breach of trust cases.

Ms Nooraziah said this after the handover of duties from former director Idrus Jaafar.

Mr Idrus has been appointed to lead the Penang ACA.

The handing over ceremony was witnessed by ACA deputy director-general ll Datuk Zakaria Jaffar. -- THE STAR