Quoting a source, the report said the highly-trained officers are able to blend in so well in their assigned tasks, that they cannot be detected, even when an MACC swoop is being carried out.

Therefore, public officers, especially those dealing with public funds and in decision-making roles, should be wary of being involved in corruption in any way, added the source.

According to the report, MACC has more than 50 officers assigned as chief integrity officers (CIO) in several “hot” ministries and departments.

“It is our ambition to have MACC officers in every government department, not just the ‘hot’ ones.

“But for now, we cannot afford to do so as we do not have that many officers to spare,” the daily quoted MACC deputy chief commissioner (operations) Azam Baki as saying.

He added that the commission is focused on cleaning up the civil service sectors that dealt with public funds, plugging the loopholes in the public delivery system that could open the room for corrupt practices and abuse of power, and enacting a law to deal with misconduct in public office.

The MACC has of late, made the news over several “high-profile” arrests.

This includes the arrest and subsequent charging of the “Datuk Seri” attached to the Kuala Lumpur City Hall with 18 counts of graft, and the latest arrest of two top officers of the Sabah Water Department, where graft investigators recovered a record sum of RM115 million in cash and in bank accounts, and seized millions of ringgit worth of jewellery and luxury cars.