Better a parent-offspring tag team than one comprising ‘yes men'

Free Malaysia Today

7 days ago

From Walter Sandosam
Pursuant to the latest PKR party elections, insinuations have been made on nepotism and the possible creation of political dynasties. The incumbent deputy president, Rafizi Ramli, had fallen out of favour.
Congratulations to Nurul Izzah Anwar, who has proved herself worthy. She has indicated in her speech to the delegates on her stance on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. We don't need data analytics when grassroots support is waning.
Some of us are caught up by the term 'nepotism' so much so that we are blinded to ideals being expressed. When views are diametrically opposed, it reveals the presence of intelligent thought.
Reform in its true sense, notwithstanding the obvious linkage by blood.
While there may be areas of agreement between the top two in the party, on one topic, there is divergence – the extension of the tenure of the top graft-buster.
It has been termed 'unwelcome'; a sentiment shared by a number of NGOs and political observers.
MACC needs reform and it needs it yesterday beginning at the top. It has been much delayed. Aspirations to be in the top third of anti-corruption international rankings will come to naught given the misgivings being openly expressed by various quarters.
The new deputy president has seen that, in direct contrast to the president who speaks of the 'courage' of the chief commissioner to go after the 'big fish', there is something amiss.
Let us not live in a delusionary world here. Azam's personal case on shares some years back, his encounter with the chief justice on investigating a judge and, more recently, the apparent feet dragging on the Sabah mining scandal videos and the instance of procedural missteps on investigations on Pamela Ling – 'suspect or witness' categorisation – speak for itself.
On 'big fish', as alluded to, in the past, an ex-Selangor menteri besar was charged, some years ago, with corruption for purchasing property 'below market value' from a party that had then dealings with the state. He was convicted of corruption and served time.
In 2018, another chief minister was on trial on a similar offence with the same core ingredients. In his wisdom, the deputy public prosecutor asked for a discharge not amounting to acquittal (DNAA).
This request was couched in words, which still astounds legal minds. It allowed the judge the latitude to grant a DAA as opposed to the requested DNAA.
All is above board, but it is pertinent to point out that the said accused, at the time of the trial, was already appointed a federal minister under the post-2018 elections regime.
Hence, the MACC has gone after 'big fish' in the past, not to mention the many other cases, especially against some persistently corrupt enforcement agencies.
So much for the reform agenda.
The first revamp was pursuant to the MACC Act 2009 with the appointment of oversight panels. It was precipitated by allegations of political interference. Sadly, these oversight panels seem to have either lost purpose or taken a hike into the wilds and got lost.
It is interesting to note that the defeated PKR deputy president has maintained a stoic silence on the extension of appointment of Azam.
This is rather astounding as just prior to the 2022 election date, he had made remarks which could be interpreted that he will 'go looking' for Azam.
This was pursuant to MACC's 'visits' to his company Invoke presumably looking for records.
These have since been defended as political soundbytes – a convenient term.
Will new evidence now mysteriously appear for MACC to reopen investigations as in the case of an investigation into billions stashed away overseas which need to be traced now through Mutual Legal Assistance agreements?
On the reform agenda, again, it is taking forever and a day on another issue with a 'promise' now that it can possibly be resolved before the next general election.
Empirical studies are superfluous when deciding on a conceptual issue – the separation of the duties of the attorney-general and the public prosecutor. Let's not forget it was part of the reform agenda.
Let us not be blinded by terminologies, namely nepotism. It is better to have a parent-offspring tag team than with one of all 'yes men', who have conveniently forgotten the essence of 'reform'.
The new deputy president should use her position wisely to promote good governance, lest she lose her credibility – start with the MACC chief commissioner as highlighted by many quarters.
Walter Sandosam is a past member of MACC's independent operations review panel and an FMT reader.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.