MACC chief Latheefa Koya has urged politicians to stop using the graftbuster as a political tool to attack other leaders.

She said politically-motivated reports made it hard for the MACC to maintain its professionalism and integrity.

“We strive to be professional, and we do not want MACC to be used as a tool. We will investigate when we receive complaints, but there must be a basis for these claims.

“There are many cases where people come and report, and later, expose their reports to the media. Some politicians feel that we don’t look at their cases,” Latheefa was quoted as saying by The Malaysian Insight.

It was reported that her remarks were in reference to calls by a Sabah opposition leader for MACC to probe an RM155 million land sale to the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority.

Warisan vice-president Peter Anthony had been arrested and remanded three days in January last year over the case.

The MACC at the time was also looking for lawyer Michael Persius Ubu for the case.

However, to this day Ubu has not been found, leading to calls for the MACC to track him down. 

Latheefa said MACC will investigate any case that has a basis to it.

"Nothing has stopped just because someone has come into power," she said, adding that the MACC was "looking into some" cases involving high-profile Sabahans.