Despite feverish attempts to refurbish the image of MACC on many fronts in recent days, it has not been able to improve one jot of public confidence …


The New Straits Times today carried the screaming front-page headline: “MACC steps in – probe under way into Sime Darby’s losses” but nobody is impressed, not least when less than a week earlier the MACC Deputy Commissisoner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul said the commission will let Sime Darby complete its internal investigation first.

Shukri said: “If Sime Darby doesn’t have the experience on how to pinpoint corruption, they can ask for MACC’s help.”

He said MACC will open an investigation file into the financial affairs of the conglomerate GLC if any element of corruption is suspected in its massive billion-ringgit losses in its third quarter results.

What happened in the past week? Did Sime Darby ask for MACC’s help or did MACC discover “element of corruption” in the massive billion-ringgit losses in Sime Darby’s third-quarter?

Or is MACC just thirsting for cheap publicity and front-page headlines hoping to impress the Malaysian public with publicity stunts rather than professionalism and concrete results?

If billion-ringgit corporate losses are themselves justification for the MACC to open an investigation file, has MACC opened any investigation file into the mega-losses of the Bakun dam project – as it is reported to have incurred total cost overruns of RM1.7 billion?

And what about all the other billion-ringgit government, GLC or corporate losses?

I am not against MACC initiating investigations into the mega losses of Sime Darby with its history of some RM3.5 billion write-offs to date, but the Malaysian public are tired of all the MACC displays of “lighting and thunder but no rain” – purportedly to go after “big fishes” and mega-scandals but ending up completely empty-handed.

This MACC escapade is the latest MACC effort on many fronts in recent days to refurbish its image, but public confidence in it had not increased one jot as it has not been able to prove that it could be really independent and cease to be the Umno/BN catspaw as in its first 17 months of existence.

For instance, the MACC claims that it is prepared to record private investigator P. Balasubramian’s statement in connection with the C4 murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu and that it was the private investigator who had been the cause of the delays have been rubbished by Balasubramaniam’s lawyers.

In the process, Shukri’s earlier statement that MACC would meet Balasubramaniam “anywhere he felt appropriate” and not only at Malaysian embassies abroad was exposed and debunked.

Now that MACC has been offered an all-expenses paid – flights and accommodation – trip to interview and record Balasubramian’s statement in London from July 3 to 12, MACC cannot continue with their “tai chi” game as this will be another critical test of its independence, professionalism and integrity.

It is indeed sad and pathetic that the MACC and the several supervising committees did not realise how ridiculous they were in their proposals to rebrand MACC to win public confidence when the MACC was itself a purported attempt to rebrand its predecessor, the Anti-Corruption Agency, and to start off on a completely new page in terms of public confidence.

As it turned out, the MACC is even worse than ACA in terms of public confidence in its independence, professionalism and integrity – highlighted by the mysterious death of DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock at the MACC headquarters and the MACC record of declaring war on Pakatan Rakyat instead of declaring war on corruption!

The suggestions by the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board must take the cake in exposing the dismal failures of the MACC after 17 months.

The Board has proposed that the Federal Constitution be amended to create an Anti-Corruption Service Commission for the appointment, confirmation and promotion of the members of the anti-graft body and that the MACC Chief Commissioner should be accorded a position equivalent to the inspector-general of police.

At a time when public confidence in the efficiency, independence, impartiality, professionalism and integrity of major national institutions are at the lowest point – in particular for the offices of Inspector-General of Police and even the Chief Justice – the Board’s proposals have only highlighted the disease afflicting the key national institutions without prescribing the proper remedies.

But the biggest blow to the pretensions of independence, professionalism and integrity of MACC had been delivered by none other than former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who had openly admitted that “vote-buying” had been prevalent during UMNO’s triennial elections, accusing “practically everyone” elected into the UMNO supreme council of using such means.

Mahathir said: “So you can say that Umno central committee is actually made up of corrupt people.”

What has MACC got to say and do about Mahathir’s admissions?

  1. #1 by k1980 on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 1:34 pm

    To paraphrase the mamak, “So you can say that MACC directorate is actually made up of umno people.”

  2. #2 by Cinapek on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 2:11 pm

    “..It is indeed sad and pathetic that the MACC and the several supervising committees did not realise how ridiculous they were in their proposals to rebrand MACC to win public confidence…”

    The members of the various supervising committees should have the balls to resign before they let MACC tarnish their names further and especially since they have no powers to make the MACC mend their ways anyway. The MACC takes their orders from one source and one source only and could not give a damn what these commitees say or do. So why stay on and rubber stamp all these shennanigans and destroy your own credibility and legacy?

  3. #3 by albert308 on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 2:17 pm

    Tun Negarawan Terunggul, who started Bakun project?
    When GLCs drag into troubled project, who is to be blame?

  4. #4 by albert308 on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 2:37 pm

    YB Boo Cheng Hau’s blog revealed JOHOR GLCs ARE IN BAD SHAPE!
    Welcome MACC to Johor for an investigation!
    Johor an UMNO stronghold no more!

  5. #5 by gofortruth on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 2:51 pm

    “MACC Deputy Commissisoner Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdul said the commission will let Sime Darby complete its internal investigation first.”
    ——————-
    What he is saying is let Sime Darby send in the “experts” to do the necessary cover ups first.

    Talking of which, what happens to the “super task force” sent by Najib on PKFZ? Busy putting back the covers??????

    Malaysia needs a change of government to clean up the mess. Period!

  6. #6 by sheriff singh on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 2:53 pm

    “MACC steps in.” Oh, wow! Yeah. Wow!

    What will happen now?

    Will they round up the ‘usual PR suspects’?

    Will there be 24/7 non-stop questionings and overnight stands?

    Will somebody be arrested and charged for ‘sodomy’ of Sarawak’s landscape?

    Will somebody do the ‘freefall’?

    Wait for it. They never fail to disappoint us.

  7. #7 by k1980 on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 3:05 pm

    Off-topic but something interesting for Jib to answer

    Malaysia’s average download speed was 1.88 Mbps as compared with 1.92 Mbps in Mozambique

    Msia ranked #102 out of 152 countries re: average download speed. Mozambique beats us & they don’t even hv a Multimedia *SUPER* Corridor

  8. #8 by Dipoh Bous on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 3:47 pm

    #7 above touches on *SUPER* corridor..

    I don’t understand why we are so obsessed in developing all kinds of ‘corridors’ in our country. Even Sarawak doesn’t want to be left out on ‘creating’ corridors.

    Why don’t we develope the ‘main’ house/building first? No wonder our country will never achieve anything ( positive) since we are not able to prioritise things.

    Corridor this and corridor that, my foot !!

  9. #9 by sheriff singh on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 4:13 pm

    Only we have corridors and they are all non-functional because of firewalls, administrative red-tapes and a 6:30 government.

  10. #10 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 4:24 pm

    What efficiency MACC – even if d evidence is hidden in one’s rectum or @rshole, MACC could not smell it out even if their nostrils r next 2 d hole
    NR is having a gala time, what me worry abt MACC?

  11. #11 by monsterball on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 5:01 pm

    Are you joking?
    Public trust MACC?
    You better trust Najib is a real nice guy..never break a promise…never lied…never kill anything in his life.
    That’s why he was such a great Minister of Defense..a non killer…only interested in money….hahahahahahaha

  12. #12 by Yee Siew Wah on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 5:11 pm

    Here we go again. That Malaysia Ass Of Cows and Cars is trying to impress and be relevant to the public. What a cheap cheap shot!! If that so called biggest and greatest company {GLC) in Bolehland is from the opposition camp, those guys in MACC will swamp all over and investigate with immediate effect. No reports or whatsoever requie la. One minute they say let them conduct their own investigations. Actually, they are giving those corrupted greedy big sharks in “Slime” Derby the time to “clean” themselves. After that, the heroes of MACC will come roaring. As usual, no elements of corruptions, not enough evidence etc… Finally case CLOSED.
    AMAZING INDEED!!

  13. #13 by yhsiew on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 5:37 pm

    MACC is a “gone case”. Nobody is going trust them any more . They said they wanted to probe into Najib’s buy-election. In the end no action had been taken.

  14. #14 by dawsheng on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 6:27 pm

    MACC killed Teoh Beng Hock!

  15. #15 by dawsheng on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 6:32 pm

    Mahathir said: “So you can say that Umno central committee is actually made up of corrupt people.”

    Mahathir is Bapa Kapitalisma of Malaysia, he should know. Face it old man, you can always pretend you don’t know, and it is not your fault, but it’ll never change the fact that we are living in the consequences of your mistakes.

  16. #16 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 8:03 pm

    //Mahathir said: “So you can say that Umno central committee is actually made up of corrupt people.”//

    Dr. Mahathir is definitely telling the truth with the above admissions. One of his dear son (the present deputy minister of MITI) is right now sitting in the seat as the Umno central commitee member!

  17. #17 by Onlooker Politics on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 8:07 pm

    “a non killer…only interested in money….hahahahahahaha” (monsterball)

    [deleted]

  18. #18 by cseng on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 11:22 pm

    So, MACC is going to macc sime-darby? but,

    1)Is this the same MACC that suppose to macc PI Bala?
    2)Is this the same MACC that suppose to macc Najib’s you help me, I help you in Sibu?
    3)Is this the same MACC that macc the PKFZ fiasco?
    4)Is this the same MACC that macc the 2 Perak frogies?

    This MACC can only macc things, they don’t investigate! but, this is their role to macc thing. After you were macc-ed by MACC you are as clean and clear as cristal.

  19. #19 by monsterball on Wednesday, 26 May 2010 - 11:26 pm

    [deleted]
    And the show he put at Rajang Park…downright bribery and corruption act.
    And all the King’s men and soldiers dare not touch our Humpty Dumpty.

  20. #20 by ekompute on Thursday, 27 May 2010 - 5:35 am

    When one thinks of MACC, one immediately remember Teoh Beng Hock. How then can MACC ever refurbish its image to improve one speck of public confidence? Its bad karma will live on until its natural death, come the next general election when it would be thrown out together with the Barisan government.

  21. #21 by limkamput on Thursday, 27 May 2010 - 8:36 am

    We once complained the ACA was not effective and can’t catch big fish. We asked them to set up commission so that the agency can be more effective and independent in tackling endemic corruption in this country. They set up a commission, given more power and independence, not to tackle corruption but to screw the opposition and those who are against the corrupted. Be careful of what we ask for,:) ?.

  22. #22 by limkamput on Thursday, 27 May 2010 - 9:07 am

    When contacted, Selangor Local Government Committee chairman Ronnie Liu said Sharipah’s transfer had nothing to do with the controversy but it was a decision that was made earlier by the state secretary.

    “It is part of the rotation system among local council heads of department implemented by the state government late last year,” said Liu.//quoted from the star

    See the farting similarity here between BN and PR when coming to dealing with government servants. We are just not man enough to make honest statement that everybody knows. This bl**dy nincompoop culture is everywhere, now spreading to PR exco also.

  23. #23 by ekompute on Thursday, 27 May 2010 - 11:55 am

    limkamput :
    See the farting similarity here between BN and PR when coming to dealing with government servants. We are just not man enough to make honest statement that everybody knows. This bl**dy nincompoop culture is everywhere, now spreading to PR exco also.

    US President James Madison said: “The truth is that all men having power ought to be mistrusted.”

    What we need is a two-party system to keep everyone on their toe. For all you know, BN makes a better opposition and PR makes a better government, LOL.

  24. #24 by monsterball on Thursday, 27 May 2010 - 2:43 pm

    hahahahaha….MACC to step in Sime Darby case?
    ekompute is right….change the government…make BN the opposition and see what happens.
    Continue with BN…all big fishes are swimming happily.
    Just look at PKFZ rm12.5 Billion corruptions.
    According to MACC Ling Liong Sik.. and Mahathir very clean…because not one sen found in their pockets.
    They totally ignored the purpose and intentions and acts.
    Mahathir also said…all PMs are not corrupted in Malaysia.
    That smart ass is feeling great he can fool all Malaysians with such logic…..because these smart crooks steal…for 3 reasons..plus one…for party..and some for his cronies and half total amount to their trustees.
    If one steal billions..one will also make sure not one sen in his bank account.
    But we know Mahathir stole for his son…and close both eyes to encourage all UMNO B members to steal…as much as they can.
    That’s why he can last for 22 years.
    MACC?…Whole country knows…what kind of results they will give…after months of so call investigations.
    Yes…humans being need to move on with their lives and can easily forget.
    Armed with that UMNO B will keep performing circus shows to keep Malaysians happy.

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