ICAC’s praise for MACC “a good start for Malaysia to battle graft” – a supreme insult!


The Star headline, “Good start, says Hong Kong’s ICAC”, quoting the deputy commissioner and head of operations of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Daniel Li for the creation of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officially launched by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yesterday is no real praise but a supreme insult causing self-respecting Malaysians to cringe at such a serious indictment of Malaysia’s anti-corruption record whether in the 22-year premiership of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad or the five-year Abdullah premiership.

When the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) was founded in 1967 under the first Director-General Tan Sri Harun Hashim, the ACA’s public standing as an independent anti-corruption agency both regionally and internationally was highest in its 41-year history.

Unfortunately, after Tan Sri Harun Hashim’s tenure, the ACA had not been able to build on the public confidence enjoyed by the ACA.

Otherwise, the ACA should have become a premier anti-corruption body in the world instead of allowing the Hong Kong International Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) which was formed seven years after the ACA in 1974 to establish the international reputation as one of the best known and successful organisations dedicated to addressing issues of corruption in both the public and private sectors, to the extent that the Malaysia has to learn from ICAC, when it should be Hong Kong having to learn from the ACA!

This is the second time that Malaysia is trying to emulate ICAC. The results of the first effort when the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 was enacted had been disastrous with Malaysia taking a nosedive from No. 26 in the 1996 Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI), falling 21 places in 12 years to No. 47 in the 2008 TI CPI.

In this period, Malaysia had deteriorated both in CPI ranking and score, with ranking slipping from No. 26 to No. 47 while the CPI score fell from 5.32 in 1996 to 5.1 in 2008 (10 perceived as “highly clean” while 0 perceived as “highly corrupt).

In contrast, other Asian countries have either improved both their rankings or scores or both, viz:

1996 2008
Singapore 7 (8.80) 4 (9.2)
Hong Kong 18 (7.01) 12 (8.1)
Japan 17 (7.05) 18 (7.3)
Taiwan 29 (4.98) 39 (5.7)
South Korea 27 (5.02) 40 (5.6)
Malaysia 26 (5.32) 47 (5.1)

Will Malaysia’s ranking and score in TI Corruption Perception Index fall even lower with the MACC Act, just as they fell even lower from 1997-2008 after the passage of the Anti-Corruption Act 1997?

The very fact that this question is posed at the very start of the MACC is a reflection of the failure of the MACC to command unquestioned national and international confidence in its independence, impartiality and professionalism in its first six weeks of operation – particularly with the bias and unprofessionalism shown by the MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan in his comment on the “car and cows” investigation involving the Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

The MACC Deputy Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammad missed the point altogether about the critical importance of maintaining public confidence in the MACC’s independence, impartiality and professionalism when he came to the defence of the Chief Commissioner, claiming that Ahmad Said had acted within the law when he commented about the Selangor Mentri Besar.

Can Ahmad Said cite a single instance where he had done the same thing with regard to corruption investigations involving top Barisan Nasional leaders?

  1. #1 by taiking on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 12:50 pm

    Aiyah oledi best in the world maa. Who donno. See icac commen is proof we hoh lelly the best. Hong Kong people orso know oledi. Last time hoh we rank 20 something. Then we got implove to 50 something. See hk aiyoh drop ah. Where got place to hide their face? We sure hoh will implove somemore one. Maybe 60 something. Maybe 70 something. More and more higher every year.

    We sure boleh one. Believe or not?

  2. #2 by ahseng83 on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 1:13 pm

    Since singapore ranking is higher than HK, why keep talking bout ICAC again? Shouldn’t we be looking to our neighbour which is just a few km away and learn from Singapore’s CPIB? (Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau)

    By the way, heard from the news that “the old sleepy man” on the helm is not going to disgrace the govt. when he step down and once he did that, he’d like to go back to do what he likes most. (Gardening and fishing) – this is what he do best. Wonder what good Dr. M see in him to make him his sucessor in the first place. Bad taste. He might get a official position too when he step down.

    Too bad i got a job offer for him. My securuty guard. Monthly salary Rm500. That’s it. Will he bite?

  3. #3 by ahseng83 on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 1:18 pm

    Singapore and Malaysia is just a bridge away from each other but yet the index shows that one is at the top while the other is at the rock bottom! Rock Bottom BABY!!

  4. #4 by Jong on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 1:42 pm

    What an insult to the intelligence of Rakyat Malaysia!

    If you ask me, I think the whole Federal Government should resign together with their lapdogs! They have lost all sense of responsibility, no more credibility or integrity left in them.

  5. #5 by m.a. on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 1:43 pm

    Can Ahmad Said cite a single instance where he had done the same thing with regard to corruption investigations involving top Barisan Nasional leaders?

    IF HE DO THAT THEN THE PEMUDA UMNO WILL ASK THE MACC TO USE SLOW GEAR!!!!! THEY WILL ASK FOR MORE ROOM AND THEY WILL CONFUSED WITH THE LEMBAGA DISIPLIN!!!

  6. #6 by sani on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:04 pm

    YB

    The 1st step to improving our standing, is to stop the MACC from corrupting, in cash or in kind.

  7. #7 by wanderer on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:13 pm

    “The MACC has responded and carried out investigations and (decision) announced, If the cases have beed closed, then they should be closed” Quote PM

    ————————————

    An organization like UMNO crowded with criminal minds and its leaders with toxic scumbags, are we to believe there are no corruptions in the den of evils?
    Mr PM, what do you takes us for…a bunch of ignorant school kids?
    We will not compromise with UMNO evil and corrupted ways. We will seek retribution when the change comes, we will not allow you scumbags to go scot free!
    The corrupt cases committed by UMNO criminals are not closed and they remain unclosed.

    It looks like the ‘flying ringgit’ are also reaching the shore of Hong Kong ….or, diplomacy at its worst!

  8. #8 by One4All4One on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:23 pm

    What about Ahmad Said’s son’s case in Australia?

    If he had been charged and found guilty there, how come there are no action taken against him back home, where the government had been harping on the sin of possessing pornographic material? Compare that to the action (questioning) on CSL?

    Smacks of double standards. Why is MACC or the police or politicians or whatever/whoever silent on that?

    On that count alone MACC’s reputation is be questionable.

    What about the many complaints and police reports lodged against individuals or organisations or agencies which did not see the same kind of response from MACC on, say, the MB Selangor’s cows and car cases?

    There are more questions than answers that MACC should have answered long time ago.

    To have ahmad said as head of MACC, and ACA before that, is not a good idea at all. If he had been not that effective in ACA, what would make him being so at MACC? Something is not right.

  9. #9 by Toyol on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:24 pm

    MACC still ACA, very much like Borang 13 for CCM! Can call it whatever, as long as its not independent, just namesake only!

  10. #10 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:39 pm

    I don’t put much stock to the qoute. Its likely to be taken out of context. More spin-doctoring after the disastrous start. Maybe he meant just the little show and tell yesterday – he probably meant the food was good and the event was well attended.

  11. #11 by One4All4One on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:41 pm

    To learn from HK ( TI/CPI 12/8.1 ) and not from Singapore (TI/CPI 4/9.2 for year 2008) is mind boggling.

    Why seek the deputy commissioner and head of operations of Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) Daniel Li’s endorsement of MACC, rather Transparent International, who are the true arbiter on corruption itself?

    It seems Malaysian authorities always shun meritocracy, whenever they could. So that they would not be severely criticised or judged?

    The benchmark has to be raised if MACC, or for that matter any other agencies, are to be credible at all.

  12. #12 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 2:59 pm

    I suggest MACC to immediately investigate the following, as the amount of money involved is much greater than Khalid’s cows and car. Come on, be lightning fast!!

    ‘Khalid alleges BN paid RM17.5m in questionable Mecca deal ‘

    http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/index.php/malaysia/19112-khalid-alleges-bn-paid-rm175m-in-questionable-mecca-deal-

  13. #13 by distantmalay on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:03 pm

    In malaysiakini, the Selangor Sultan spoke thru his private secretary, Mohamad Munir Bani:

    “His Royal Highness is upset and worried as of late the intrusion of someone’s privacy and private rights was being used to destroy one’s dignity and reputation……. It is a sad thing as one’s life and private rights were being made public and subject to public scrutiny by publicising in the mass media.”

    The sultan expressed sympathy for Wong and hoped that she will:
    “remain calm and be patient in continuing with her life henceforth”.

    well, although the Sultan threw the ball back into MB Khalid’s court, he considers YB Eli as a victim, and should continue her life henceforth.

    I think, it is a strong hint that MB Khalid should act in the manner of justice to the victim, by letting her continue with her life in Pakatan, as before.

  14. #14 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:04 pm

    How is it a “good start” when the start is embroiled in public controversy regarding fairness of MACC’s premature statement that it had strong evidence against Selangor MB Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim involving the maintenance of his personal car and distribution of cows for slaughter in his Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary constituency???

    We know that under section 58 of MACC Act prosectution requires Public Prosecutor (Attorney General) consent. Here the Public Prosecutor will need to review MACC’s investigations/findings. If they support a case of corruption, a charge of corruption will be preferred; otherwise there will be no charge.

    Now supposing the Public Prosecutor takes one year or two to review and make up its mind that there is no case. Worse still, after such a finding of “no case” the Prosecutor simply says nothing about it.

    Now the fact is what is remaining on record one or two yewars earlier was a statement made in public by MACC that it had “strong” evidence that Selangor MB was implicated in corrupt act related to the maintenance of his personal car and distribution of cows for slaughter – which obviously the Public Prosecutor in not having recommended a charge over a period of one or two years is obviously of a different view that the evidence is strong: in fact the Public Prosecutor may think its either weak or no evidence, contrary to MACC’s earlier perception.

    In such a case I ask is this state of affairs fair to Khalid, with MACC’s negative statement standing on public record, and the Public Prosecutor’s determination of ‘no case” contrary to MACC’s position, either unknown or unstraightened to the public for years to come, without finality????

    My point is simple: many a persons like for eg Khalid whose important official position in office (MB’s position) would be prejudiced and rendered untenable (in discharge of official functions) following such a public statement by the MACC of its finding of “strong” evidence of corruption when this finding is not vindicated by Public Prosecutor’s similar determination leading to preferring a charge, and the macc’s statement is allowed to hang like a guillotine for a period of time indeterminate!

  15. #15 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:10 pm

    Continuing from earlier post:

    The second in command in MACC defended his boss’s decision by saying that section 29(4) allows MACC’s chief to deviate from ordinary norms of secrecy incidental to MACC’s investigations.

    The issue is not that he has power to make an exceptional disclosure contrary to secrecy norm: the real issue is under what proper circumstances he is permitted to make such exceptional disclosure.

    Our norm is that a person is innocent until guilt is proven otherwise beyond reasonable doubt by a court of law.

    That being the case it is reasonable to infer MACC’s discretion to deviate from secrecy norm and disclose outcome of MACC’s investigations should be exercised in favour of (1) exonerating a person’s innocence in public eyes where investigations known or leaked to the public suggest innocence have led to MACC’s finding of innocence and NOT the opposite case (2) to prior implicate a person esp a public personality (with strong evidence of corruption) investigated before a Public Prosecutor has determined that investigations show prima facie case to prosecute, and especially when Public Prosecutor’s determination is eventually contrary to MACC’s determination!

    The inability to distinguish (1) from (2) on proper purposes of disclosure as an exception to norm of secrecy of investigations has prejudiced the rights of the person investigated and is a stain on MACC’s record at the start whether it knows the true intent and object of the provisions/procedures contained in the MACC Act.

  16. #16 by distantmalay on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:16 pm

    based on the malaysiakini report, i do not see the Sultan of Selangor putting any blame on YB Eli. There’s not a hint of blame.

    Instead, he regards YB Eli as a victim, and he is “upset and worried as of late the intrusion of someone’s privacy and private rights was being used to destroy one’s dignity and reputation….”

    MB Khalid should assist the Sultan to stay impartial, and above politics, but at the same time assist in the dispensation of justice.

  17. #17 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:21 pm

    The other confusion is even if the Public Prosecutor now determines that there is case to prosecute Khalid, the public mind will forever wonder whether the Public Prosecutor’s decision to eventually prosecute is really based on indedependent and objective appraisal of facts and law or influenced by extraneous considerations of saving MACC’s face when it prematurely “jumped the boat” to announce there as strong evidence of corruption before the proper party (ie the Public Prosecutor) whose job is to determine and prefer a charge had, at the time of MACC’s statement, yet made such determination!

  18. #18 by distantmalay on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:26 pm

    unlike Heir Toyo,

    the Selangor Sultan did not make YB Eli’s private life into a moral issue. Instead he points to the intrusion of privacy to destroy someone’s dignity and reputation as “the” moral issue, and condemns such action.

  19. #19 by Jeffrey on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:28 pm

    On the part of the HRH Selangor Sultan’s refusal to get involved – and to stay above the fray – shows that Khalid was wrong and shouldn’t in the first place, try to make a strictly political decision on Elizabeth Wong’s case under the cover and excuse of “consulting” Royalty!

  20. #20 by ALLAN THAM on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:37 pm

    Ask Hong Kong ICAC to read the Sun or some give Nades phone or email to for Hong Kong to know MACC better.

    Nades has good write up and it can compile into a thick book now.

  21. #21 by ALLAN THAM on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:41 pm

    Nades asked ACA for an update on all cased lodged by him but only told he was not entitled to and quote P & C as reason.

    Every one who has not read the Sun today please read it. It has all clear say by Nades.

    Now they say they has the right to announce ? Announce on behalf of for BN ?????

    Malaysia has no hope as far as BN is not being replaced.

  22. #22 by donplaypuks on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:42 pm

    I don’t now how the HK MACC is structured, but I note that the various advisory committees to the M’sian MACC comprise 42 so called eminent persons.

    Now is that just dandy! This must be the Quangos of Quangos ( as per Yes Minister, meaning QUAsi Non-Governmental Organisation)set up by any Govt with so many people on gaji buta retainers.

    YB, how about a piece on what exactly these 42 advisors are there for and how is this unwieldy structure going to function, if at all, efficiently as an oversight committee!!

  23. #23 by distantmalay on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:43 pm

    i don’t think there a hard and fast rule that the sultan cannot be consulted, or that it is wrong to consult the sultan on matters affecting his state,

    possibly MB Khalid would like YB Eli to remain (a populist policy), but is unsure of the sultan’s sensitivity on this matter of retaining her. So he defers to HRH.

    now that the Sultan has spoken, MB Khalid has his answer, and can act with an easy heart.

  24. #24 by ALLAN THAM on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 3:51 pm

    Please even they have a good case of Khalid this will always been seen as a selective prosecution unless they prosecute those mentioned by Nades in his Sun reports. Other wise people will not be cowed by them using the COWS.

    THE VERY FACT THAT THEY CHOSE TO ANNOUNCE THEIR finding and made he comments in newspaper is bee seen as used or willing to be used by those in power.

    No body can comment better than Nades. He has written extensively and provide all documentation but yet they remain in the PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATION? Do you believe them? ACA or MACC has not diffrence. You may have big party to official the creation but what they done can not convince the people.

    Now MACC may say we have been mislead by Nades . OK if that was so please answer what Nades has been asking all this while or report him to polis and investigate him if he has done anything wrong.

  25. #25 by ALLAN THAM on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 4:12 pm

    Mecca Apartments

    This is just s small can of worms.

    The current MB need not to spend much of his time to look further. Ask Nades from the Sun and am sure he is willing provide all his research and investigating documentation, on how Corrupt is former Selangor.

    It rage from Bill Board licensing to expensive watch cost over hundred of thousand.

    Misused of power, Corruption blatant misused of state fund. You name it you have it.

    As a reader of the Sun and follower of Nades and Terrence articles, I can say that in Malaysia at this moment there is no other person who has more knowledge on corruption and abuse of power than Nades. In his today articles he has summarized some of the most high stake cases but accordingly to him nothing has come out and remain still in PROGRESS.

    In his writing he also mentioned he has on many occasion challenge the ACA head for some answer but also at no result.

    In many of his writing he has provide detail and even documentation to support what he claims but it seem still not sufficient to bring charge?

    So he challenge ACA but they cowed ? They dare no to answer but the usual sort of thing still in PROGRESS AIT NEED TIME YOU KNOW. Short of man power you know.

    Yes, we do not believe on ACA or MACC or what ever you want to call and term it. We do not believe there is any change to come. It is never as may be the stake is too high for a change.

  26. #26 by distantmalay on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 4:53 pm

    “Section 29(4) of the MACC Act states that any officer with the rank of commissioner is alowed to make open statements about an investigation.”

    the MACC is an investigative body. [ not a broadcasting station. Therefore, when it opens its mouth, it must be prepared to back up what it says].

    if it is compelled by a need to say something like “there is a strong evidence of wrongdoing by…”, then it should state the evidence.

    if there is no reason to state any evidence, then there is really no need for the MACC to say anything at all.

    what’s the meaning of saying something like “there is a strong evidence of wrongdoing by……” then fullstop ??

    such inconclusive statement is meaningless [by an investigative body], and clearly an attempt to cast aspersions.

  27. #27 by hawk on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 4:54 pm

    MACC is really in dire straits. Both their No 1 and No 2 don’t even understand their own law, ie MACC Act.

    Sect.29(1) talks about a ‘report’ relating to the commission of a corrupt offence given to the MACC. It is like the police rpt.

    29(4) says such ‘report’ shall be secret and shall not be disclosed until an accused is charged in court. In certain circumstances, the ‘report’ can be disclosed with the permission of the PP or MACC Commissioner. Such circumstances we would think are cases where the investigation that follows from the lodging of the ‘report’ reveals insufficient evidences to initiate criminal prosecution.

    S. 29(4) only talks about the powers of the Commissioner to give permission to the person who lodged the report or any other interested persons to disclose the content of the ‘report’. No where does it says in s.29(4) that, the Commissioner has power to give his opinion about the result of an investigation or to disclose the result of the investigation.

    Such very basic law, these two top officers don’t know. You can see where the Macc is heading.

  28. #28 by distantmalay on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 5:39 pm

    very good Hawk! it is very clear.

  29. #29 by Bobster on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 6:05 pm

    Hey Mr Prime Minister, please dont announce in the paper that MACC is your legacy and making a fool of yourself. It is a BIG SHAME in the eyes of the rakyat! Just talk to any men on the street!

    MACC already fails the whole country before launching. Why are they so effective going after maintenance cost of MB’s car and slaughtering of lembu for the rakyat during Korban but ignored tons of corruption cases against the most corrupted formal MB in the history by the name of hantu Toyol??

    Whatever your name it, garbage is still garbage

  30. #30 by the reds on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 6:15 pm

    I wonder MACC can still proudly claim that Malaysia no. 47 ranking is still ahead of Zimbabwe no. 166 ranking in year 2008! Malaysia Boleh!

  31. #31 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 6:38 pm

    Ooop!! Correction:

    “Come on, be lightning fast!!”

    should be

    “Come on MACC, be lightning fast!!”

  32. #32 by limkamput on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 7:09 pm

    i suggest PR go after this Daniel Li. Dig deep, surely someday this fellow will be charged for corruption in HK.,

  33. #33 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 7:19 pm

    Two Opposition Reps Claim Receiving Cash Offers To Quit Party

    http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=392279

    Is MACC going to investigate their BOSS?

  34. #34 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 8:05 pm

    Now it is clearly exposed to the public that Malaysia Umno Federal Government has appointed an incompetent man to chair MACC as the First Chief Commissioner of MACC.

    No doubt, Ahmad Said has proven his incompetency and has lost his personal integrity by his non-professionalism and his encroaching upon the Power of the Attorney-General in making declaration that a suspect is convicted and found guilty by him as an Investigating Officer, which is a substantially wrongful criminal trial procedure which has never been permitted by any civilised law.

    Ahmad Said’s employment contract is due to expire very soon. Perhaps he is just trying to act as an Apple Polisher of Najib in order to seek Najib’s favour for renewal of his employment contract for a period extension of another one more year.

    Ahmad Said’s son may be sacked by his employer because of his being convicted by an Australian court for committing a crime of possessing and storing on his laptop computer the illegal pornograph movie materials which were being described by the court as “repugnant and abhorrent.” Sentencing magistrate Simon Smart said: “Any decent-minded person would be so affected by it. These are not victimless crimes. For every video that depicts such a scene, there is a victim.”

    YB Kit shall show some sympathies upon Ahmad Said due to the consideration that Ahmad Said’s son and he himself are going to encounter with the misfortune of double blows of unemployment. Perhaps YB Kit shall give Ahmad Said a job offer as a Private Investigator who will assist in gathering the evidential proof of the corrupted practices of Umno Politicians. At least with such a job offer, Ahmad Said will not have to bow himself so low in front of Najib who requires him to play the joker’s role of turning the MACC into “Malaysian Commission of Cows and Cars” in order to please Najib and beg Najib to extend his period of employment for another one more year.

    However, I doubt that YB Kit will be listening to me in the suggestion of the job offer to Ahmad Said, simply because such a job offer will probably go against the principle of meritocracy. Don’t I just mention that Ahmad Said is an incompetent man to assume his official duty?

  35. #35 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 8:08 pm

    A typo error…

    “Malaysian Commission of Cows and Cars” shall be replaced with ” Malaysian Agency of Cows and Cars”.

  36. #36 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 8:49 pm

    Khir Toyo is vying for the Youth Chief post in the forthcoming March UMNO elections, hence he steps up pressure on Khalid.

    Khir Toyo should stop betraying his conscience to achieve his ambition.

  37. #37 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 9:18 pm

    “Khir Toyo should stop betraying his conscience to achieve his ambition.” (yhsiew)

    Don’t worry! Khir Toyo will never be able to achieve his ambition of winning the post of Umno Youth Chief.

    Paklah doesn’t want him to win because Paklah wants his son-in-law, Khairy, to win.

    Dr. Mahathir also doesn’t want him to win because Dr. Mahathir wants his son, Mukhriz, to win.

    Khir Toyo has become a political orphan in Umno. He will lose all his contest in Umno party election and lose all his political future after March 2009. The mainstream media will no longer give him a damn after March 2009 and he will soon disappear into the quagmire of political oblivion. He will become history very soon.

  38. #38 by Yee Siew Wah on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 9:20 pm

    This racialistic, corrupted and despicable “pendatang” KT from Indonesia should be send back to his country. This is the type of bum who claim himself a pure malay and caused all the current country racial and religious issues in particular.
    I puke whenever our sleepy, flipflop, lame duck guy mentioned about his new so-called MACC. Choosing a retarded and desperate bum to head the agency. Just look at his current actions proved it.
    Its another one of UMNO running dog agencies. In fact worst than the former ACA.
    There are numerous racial and corruption reports on this “pendatang” idiot and yet nothing was done. What about that Lingam tape, the two Perak infamous froggies corruptions etc… The list is endless. Where is their priority??
    Also another proof that this bunch of bums do not know what they are doing.

  39. #39 by One4All4One on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 9:23 pm

    MB Khalid Ibrahim ought to demand Ahmad Said to apologise for tarnishing his reputation in public. Same goes to Said’s deputy for supporting his boss’s action.

    Else see him/them in court over the cows and car issues.

    MB Selangor = 1 : MACC = 0

    Let’s keep a score chart of MACC’s performance.

  40. #40 by KennyGan on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 9:35 pm

    MACC has demeaned itself in the eyes of the public by going after Khalid over the cows and cars case.

    It is indeed puzzling where the corruption lies. The Selangor state agencies have traditionally donated cows to poor people during Hari Adil Adha every year. Just because the cows were donated to Khalid’s constituency last year suddenly makes it a case of corruption?

    Didi Khalid eat all the cows himself? Did he stole any state money for his pocket?

    The case of car maintenance is even more ridiculous. As Khalid used his personal Lexus for official functions what is wrong in using state funds to maintain it? It is no more than a company reimbursing staff for use of their personal cars.

    The fact that MACC goes after Khalid with impressive speed and prematurely announced his guilt over two very dubious cases of so-called corruption shows that they are biased towards opposition politicians.

    This is even more galling when there are hundreds of serious cases of real corruption reported against Umno politicians which have never seen the light of day.

    A case in point is the use of state company funds to buy a RM159,000 watch for Khir Toyo. The fact that Khir Toyol returned the watch is immaterial. This is a case worth investigating for corruption, abuse of power and abuse of public funds.

    Needless to say, this case has not seen the light of day while the MACC goes after Khalid with fangs bared at lightning speed at the faintest whiff of wrongdoing reported by his political enemies.

    MACC and Umno should give the public more credit for intelligence. The public knows what is real corruption and what is political mischief against the opposition.

    MACC laments why the public sees it as biased. This is like raising the price of coffee by 10 times and and then wondering why people are drinking less coffee.

    MACC should pull up its socks and act in a fair and impartial manner lest it is treated with public odium and contempt.

  41. #41 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 9:40 pm

    “Else see him/them in court over the cows and car issues.” (One4All4One)

    You forget that MACC officers enjoy legal immunity in their capacity of working as an MACC officer. Taking Ahmad Said or his duputy or both to court simply does not work fruitfully to Pakatan Rakyat. It is the waste of time.

    However, we just hope that the Yang Dipertuan Agong, the Sultan of Selangor, the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and the other conscientious rulers who meet in the Conference of Rulers will not approve the renewal employment contract for the appointment of Ahmad Said for another one more year if Najib recommends Ahmad Said to be appointed again as the Chief Commissioner of MACC. Let Ahmad Said go retired quickly after March 2009. He is really an eyesore of Malaysia’s national reputation in the International Communities in relation to Anti-Corruption practices.

  42. #42 by dharmicgirl on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 10:15 pm

    MACC is indeed BN’s lapdogs; if they are independent body-they should be investigating how much siToyol’s bungkus when he was in power. How about the aparments bought in saudi???etc etc
    As for Toyol again’how come sultan is feeling sorry for Eli and toyol is saying other wise’.
    Toyol trying to tunjuk belang; lepas election ‘ habuk hang pun tak akan ada’!

  43. #43 by HJ Angus on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 10:45 pm

    I am sure many Malaysians can suggest more denigrating expressions for MACC other than \Cows and Cars.
    If you look at the venue for the launch, the PWTC – why was the MACC not launched in Putrajaya?
    After all, there are convention centres there and that will help to earn some income for Putrajaya Hldgs., that government company that has to survive on government grants.
    Instead an UMNO company earns the rental for the MACC launch – a bad beginning.
    Then today there is the news that NFA has been decided for 3 files of the famous Lingam tapes scandal.
    I wonder if the MACC needs a smoking gun before they can take action against VVIPs?
    http://malaysiawatch4.blogspot.com/2009/02/malaysiakini-and-another-malaysia-boleh.html

  44. #44 by One4All4One on Wednesday, 25 February 2009 - 11:06 pm

    Thanks Onlooker Politics for pointing out my oversight.

    Yea, those malaysian alliance of confirmed crooks “enjoy legal immunity in their capacity of working as an MACC officer”.

    That’s an unfair clause in MACC’s charter. Maybe that should be changed too because those crooks could abuse that immunity for their own interest or to protect and further the interest of who-knows-who-they-are?

  45. #45 by daryl on Thursday, 26 February 2009 - 1:48 am

    I don’t think the comment is an insult on Daniel Li’s part. He said it is a start but never say on it will be a success. We can write the best script on how to avoid, stop and prosecute corruption but without proper people and the will to do it than it become a failure. Good script but it will end up a sandiwara just like before….

  46. #46 by yhsiew on Thursday, 26 February 2009 - 9:40 am

    ///PERAK SPEAKER DEEMS MACC PROBE AN INSULT

    IPOH, Feb 25 — Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar said today he deemed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) probe on him for suspending Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and six of his executive councillors from attending state assembly sittings, as an insult.

    “I consider this an insult to the legislature, but nevertheless, I gave my full cooperation in the probe,” he told reporters after being interviewed by two MACC officers from Putrajaya at the Menteri Besar’s official residence here today.

    He added that he could not understand the need for his being questioned when he was only discharging his duties and the whole episode seemed more like “harassment” and an affront to the doctrine of separation of powers in a democracy.

    Yesterday, he was interviewed by police at his law office here over the same matter.

    The probes came in the wake of reports lodged against him with the police and the MACC over his action in the suspensions of Zambry and the excos. — Bernama///
    ==================================================

    Kit,

    If you, Karpal Singh or whoever from PR is being kicked out of the Parliament next time, just lodge a report with MACC or the police and ask them to probe the Speaker as it has now been proven that this can be done.

  47. #47 by bclee on Thursday, 26 February 2009 - 1:25 pm

    MACC = ACA = BN = UMNO = same old stories teller.

  48. #48 by FY Lim on Thursday, 26 February 2009 - 4:16 pm

    Whether it is MACC or Malaysian Association for cars and cows or ACA , it is still the same ineffective organisation led by the same set of people. Name sake , it has almost the similar provisions in the ACT but this is for public display only.

    Beneath this organisation,they work at slower than snail pace when it comes to BN’s people involved in corruption but could investigate claims of opposition representatives in less than a week and could provide conclusions before even a report is made.

    What do you expect ? Gaya mesti mahu and can make claims that Malaysia has the one of the best anti-corruption laws in Asia.

    The bottom line is when the head is appointed by the Chief Executive or agreed to by the chief executive in the government, he must know where his loyalty lies. You cannot lie to the whole world.

    The MACC must answer the question : What is the status of the tens of thousands report made on corruption in the past one year ?

    If this simple question could not be answered, why talk about the MACC being the …. !

  49. #49 by ekans on Friday, 27 February 2009 - 12:34 am

    Government law enforcement agencies like MACC & PDRM are manned by civil servants who should discharge their duties without getting involved or influenced by politics. It’s obvious that in 1967, the civil servants of that era knew this very well.
    Now, more than 40 years later, it is sad to see some indications that there are some civil servants who have let themselves be dragged into the manipulative political power play, set up by their politician bosses.
    There is also some hint that in state governments which had seen a change of administration after the last general elections, there are still some civil servants who secretly sympathize with the politicians from the previous administration.
    Thus, we had seen the MACC chief making uncalled for damaging comments about MB Khalid’s case, which was incidentally not long after Khalid had filed legal action against Khir Toyo for making those very same allegations, and also we had seen how PDRM seems to drag its feet over the investigation of the first live bullet death threat letter that was sent to Karpal Singh almost a year ago.

  50. #50 by madmix on Friday, 27 February 2009 - 9:57 am

    MACC is indeed very strict: giving goodies to constituents is tantamount to bribing them for votes. I agree 100%. But we need to go after MPs and ministers who approve school and hospitals, give out aid to flood victims as they are also trying to bribe voters. Good for you MACC chief go after the scumbags who try to bribe voters.
    Also we need to go after officials who who use their own cars on official duties but charge the petrol to the government. We need to check the upkeep of personal houses of our ministers and make sure they do not charge anything to the government like security guards.

  51. #51 by anna brella on Friday, 27 February 2009 - 10:28 am

    “Such very basic law, these two top officers don’t know. You can see where the Macc is heading.”

    Yes, crystal clearly.

    Being the Malaysian Authority on Crap and Cack, could it be going in a great flurried flush down the toilet and through the public sewers into those cesspools of shite held at very oddly named places like that one called Indah Water?

    “Imagine Power To The People” John Lennon.

  52. #52 by cemerlang on Friday, 27 February 2009 - 9:31 pm

    MCAC ka, ACA ka, whatever agency ka, all is c. You need to make them wat again. Forgive that Hongkie ICAC fellow. Considering all the richer Hongkies there, you will be wondering how much corruption ICAC has to deal with, compared to MCAC or ACA. As long as there is a c in any country, it means that there is corruption there. If there is no corruption, you don’t need a c. Keep fighting corruption because as long as your elected representative is corrupted and you know he or she is corrupted, then it means the fight is not over. You have to choose who to represent you and what sort of person he or she is. If that representative is up to no good, then the war can never be over.

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