Yesterday morning, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammad was the special guest of the Star online live chat.
During Abu Kassim online chat, the newspaper carried an online opinion poll which produced the following results at 12.30 noon before it was taken off line:
1. How would rate the MACC’s performance so far in fighting corruption? (image) Good – 3% Fair – 0% Poor – 98% 2. Should MACC only ‘interview’ suspects during office hours? (image) Yes – 79% No – 6% Depends on the situation – 15% 3. How would rate the MACC’s handling of Teoh Beng Hock’s case? (image) Good – 0% Fair – 4% Poor – 96% 4.Should it be made compulsory for lawyers to be present, …(image) Yes – 83% No – 6% Depends on the situation – 11%
It is tragic and pathetic that the first five months of the new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” slogan is ending (as today marks Najib’s full five months as Prime Minister) with two key national institutions, the MACC and the Malaysian Police, neck-to-neck as to which organization has lower public confidence and esteem!
In the last week of July, the Home Ministry website carried an opinion poll whether the people felt safe, with the following results:
It has been announced today that Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s contract as Inspector-General of Police has been renewed for another year although for the first time in the nation’s history, there had been an unprecedented nation-wide opposition to the second extension of Musa’s tenure as IGP.
It would appear that it is the very proof of failure to carry out the fundamental policing duties with 97% of the respondents in the Home Ministry poll felt unsafe at the high crime rate in the country and 94% of the respondents felt that the government had not done its best to ensure the safety of the people which are the key factors resulting in Musa’s favour and advantage, resulting in another year extension of his tenure as IGP.
By these same perverse standards, a MACC which is unable to command the confidence of 98% of the people to effectively combat corruption is the very MACC which is defended to the hilt by the Najib government.
With another one-year extension for Musa despite his abysmal performance, with 97% of the people who felt unsafe and 94% unconvinced that the police had done its best to protect the people’s safety, and a MACC where 98% lack confidence eight months after its establishment to replace the Anti-Corruption Agency, there appears to be no hope for any reforms to both institutions unless there is a total change of the federal government in the next general elections!