By Ronald Benjamin | September 06, 2011 The Malaysian Insider
SEPT 6 — The use of constituency funds as an election tool by the BN government to induce support should be investigated immediately by the MACC. Since the Election Commission has said that it is helpless, the MACC should step forward and investigate such a blatant act, which is the mother of all corruption.
The hesitancy to take action in a proactive manner against money politics would project the MACC as being impotent and unable to morally, proactively and culturally define its role as a watchdog capable of creating a climate of accountability where powerful politicians with government positions would not be able to get away with bribing voters.
There are two critical reasons for the MACC to act. Firstly, the coming general election is going to be the dirtiest in history. Winning at all cost has been Prime Minister Najib Razak’s aim and this has been well recorded in his speeches and actions. The collapse of the Pakatan government in Perak and the attempt to bribe politician to jump ship have not been thoroughly investigated even though there have various allegations and police reports.
Such liberty to bribe politicians and voters would definitely take place since the prime minister has given his green light. If action is not taken the people’s democratic rights would succumb to corruption and this is the greatest threat to democracy and national security where politicians and the electorate could also be bribed by imperial powers in the long run since the culture of political bribery is already regarded as the acceptable norm by mainstream political parties in Malaysia.
It is also obvious that certain politicians in Pakatan parties have also followed the Barisan Nasional’s culture of using funds as a way to obtain support.
Political bribery is the anti-thesis to safeguarding national sovereignty of the nation, and it is surprising that politicians and intellectuals who are concerned about national sovereignty seldom speak out on this matter.
Secondly, the term money politics has not been properly defined in Malaysia. Money politics has been defined within political parties and the amazing part is that the party disciplinary committees would take action, and the said culprits would not be handed over to the anti-corruption agency. Certain individuals found guilty of money politics can also make a comeback by obtaining positions, such as taking over as chairmen of business entities and political leadership and this one of the most disgraceful aspects of Malaysian political culture.
Such a culture has permeated and taken root, and this shows that politicians have become very powerful where they can break all moral and legal norms and yet get away with it, and what makes it worst is they are rewarded for it.
Therefore, it is vital for the MACC to take action against money politics at the national level. The critical information that taxpayers would want to know is the source of the constituency funds, how they are obtained, who approves them, and on what authority, basis and reason such funds are released.
It is sad that till today there is no answers forthcoming from the government and the justice system in Malaysia where money politics is concerned.