The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, made a most extraordinary election pledge yesterday when he promised more powers to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) if Barisan Nasional wins the next elections with two-thirds control of Parliament.
The question that immediately comes to mind is whether this pledge of more powers to MACC is to carry out a more effective fight against corruption or is it to enable the MACC to victimise Pakatan Rakyat leaders and activists as in the still unresolved case of the mysterious death of Teoh Beng Hock at the MACC headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009?
Such a pledge is extraordinary because any meaningful or serious proposal to give MACC more powers to carry out a more effective fight against corruption should not be contingent on a win by any party or coalition in the next general elections, let alone getting a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
On the specific proposal by the MACC advisory panel that an anti-corruption service commission be formed and be given powers to appoint and terminate MACC officers, which requires a constitutional amendment with two-thirds parliamentary vote, Pakatan Rakyat is prepared to support such a constitutional amendment in the meeting of Parliament next month if convinced that it is a step towards making the MACC more efficient, independent and professional.
The existence of separate commissions, for instance for the judicial and police services, have not been able to guarantee public confidence in the efficiency, independence, integrity and professionalism of the judicial and police services – evident from the establishment of the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission in 2004 whose 125 recommendations to ensure Malaysia has an efficient, incorrupt and professional world-class police service have still to be fully implemented after seven years and the continuing controversy over the series of judicial crisis of confidence starting with the 1988 sacking of the then Lord President, Tun Salleh Abas and two Supreme Court judges in the dark days of Mahathir premiership.
If Najib is serious about anti-corruption, he should have addressed the issue why Malaysia under his premiership is perceived, both nationally and internationally, as even more corrupt than under the previous five Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein, Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah.
Najib has yet to comment on the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2011 released last December which showed that Malaysia has fallen to the lowest TI CPI ranking of No. 60 with the lowest CPI score of 4.3.
Based on the latest TI CPI 2011 ranking and score and available data going back to 1995, Malaysia under Najib is even more corrupt than under the two previous Prime Ministers, Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah.
Comparing Najib’s administration with those of the two previous Prime Ministers, Malaysia’s worst and best TI CPI ranking and score for each administration are:
| Best ranking | Best score | Worst ranking | Worst score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tun Mahathir | 23(1995) | 5.32 (1996) | 37 (2003) | 4.8 (2000) |
| Tun Abdullah | 39(2004) | 5.1 (2005/7/8) | 47 (2008) | 5.0 (2004/6) |
| DS Najib | 56 (2009/10) | 4.5 (2009) | 60 (2011) | 4.3 (2011) |
What should concern Najib and all Malaysians is that from recent trends, Malaysia runs the risk of being overtaken by both Indonesia and China before 2020 in the annual TI CPI both in ranking and score unless Malaysia quickly bucks up and shows its seriousness on the anti-corruption front.
In the first TI CPI in 1995, Malaysia was ranked No. 23 out of 41 countries with a CPI score of 5.28.
Seventeen years later, after numerous anti-corruption campaigns, two major anti-corruption legislation, the “elevation” of the former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) into Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the National Integrity Plan, the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme with massive infusion of public funds and increase of staffing, Malaysia has now fallen to the lowest TI CPI ranking in 17 years, viz: No. 60 with the lowest CPI score of 4.3.
In comparison, Indonesia was ranked at the very bottom of No. 41 in 1995 with CPI score of 1.94 while China was ranked No. 40 with a CPI score of 2.16 in 1995. Now Indonesia is ranked No. 100 with a CPI score of 3.0 in 2011 while China is ranked No. 75 with a score of 3.6.
At the annual average rate of Indonesia and China’s improvement on TI CPI ranking and score in the past three years, compared with Malaysia’s regression in CPI score in the past three years, Malaysia will be left behind by both Indonesia and China well before 2020.
How are Malaysians going to hold their heads high when the world perceive Malaysia as being even more corrupt than Indonesia and China before the end of the decade?
Is this the fate awaiting Malaysia in the TI CPI ranking and score before 2020?
Two weeks ago, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono boasted at a special briefing of foreign envoys in Jakarta that his administration had conducted the “best” and “most aggressive” anti-corruption campaign in Indonesian history, imposing “decisive measures against corrupt state officials without exception”. As a result, “From ministers, governors, to regents and mayors, many have been tried for graft”.
Can Najib make the same boast as the Indonesian President of having conducted the “best” and “most aggressive” anti-corruption campaign in Malaysian history with “decisive measures without exception” against political and government leaders?
What has Najib got to show on the anti-corruption front in his three years as Prime Minister when only four politicians were nabbed by MACC in 2010? Can Najib disclose how many politicians were arrested by MACC in 2011?
#1 by dagen wanna "ABU" on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 2:56 pm
Stupidest promise coming from what is supposed to be a man in the position of utmost responsiblity in any country.
Anti-corruption is the cornerstone of good governance and must have the maximum power to act under all circumstances and at all times – not only when umno wins the next election.
Phaaaark. He is stupid.
#2 by Godfather on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 3:24 pm
More powers to scrutinise opposition states and office bearers lah. More money to make sure the windows of interrogation rooms are tamper-proof.
#3 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 3:24 pm
Really? This is what you think Najib was thinking about? I just thought he something broke in his brains from all the mental perverting they do..
Lets face it. Najib is not Bapa Transformasi, its Bapa Temberang.
#4 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 3:59 pm
According to MSM reports Najib’s “more powers” to MACC is reference to:-
· the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Service Commission (as suggested by the MACC advisory board) which will be responsible to appoint and terminate MACC officers;
· the Anti-Corruption Service Commission will enjoy the same authority given to the current Police Commission and Education Commission, including the power to filter, choose, interview, appoint and sack their own staff, to ensure MACC has the specific talents to perform its duties;
· among other matters being considered, upgrading of status of the MACC chief commissioner to a post stipulated in the constitution such as the posts of attorney-general, auditor-general and judges, to ensure independence and transparency.
#5 by Jeffrey on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 4:16 pm
The connection between his proposed reforms to MACC and the 2/3 parliamentary support asked for is this:-
As some of these changes require an amendment of the Federal Constitution – which may require a 2/3 parliamentary support- Najib uses this “bait” to canvass for 2/3 majority that would enable BN to effect these constitutional changes (without need of any support from the Opposition). (He proceeds on the implicit assumption that the Opposition will not support bills/amendments from BN even regarding changes to MACC he talks about, and thats why he now lobbies for the 2/3 if the rakyat support these changes). That’s his argument. Kit has reponded to this by saying: “Pakatan Rakyat is prepared to support such a constitutional amendment in the meeting of Parliament next month if convinced that it is a step towards making the MACC more efficient, independent and professional”. So BN does not necessarily need the 2/3. If it were sincere, it can initiate the reforms even now.
#6 by Loh on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 4:36 pm
But are the attorney-general and the judges independent? Even when these agencies are empowered by the constitution, the PM could decide that they are not independent. So it is up the personal wish of the PM to allow the agencies to do the work expected of these agencies. It is also up to the PM to allow the public service commission to ensure that the right people are appointed to MACC. Whether or not an anti-Corruption services commission is established does not guarantee that MACC serves the people. Thus a 2/3 majority for BN does not guarantee that MACC would be fair to the opposition, and would be fearless towards BN. The issues is whether the PM believes that he is accountable.
#7 by gofortruth on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 6:02 pm
The public perception is that MACC is a corrupt UMNO vehicle to run down opposition leaders and also any suspected BN leaders who do not seem to toe the UMNO’s line. As long as the top man of MACC is one of UMNO’s yes man who eagerly awaits big fat contracts upon retirement, it really doesn’t matter much with more or less power given to MACC.
Najib’s announcement is nothing but a deceptive move to fish for more votes from ill informed Malaysian voters.
#8 by Loh on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 6:13 pm
///Umno says Nurul Izzah not attacked, but protected
Aidila Razak | 2:58PM Feb 28 | 80
UPDATED 4.05PM Lepar representative Mohd Shohaimi Jusoh rises to the defence of his aide who is accused of attacking PKR veep Nurul Izzah Anwar.///–Malaysiakini
Interesting. UMNO members protected Nurul Anwar from UMNO members, or were they Perkasa members? We remember Syed Hamid, the former Home Minister, using ISA to protect reporter. Now we hear that UMNO members have to protect opposition politicians from UMNO members. But can we believe them? We could not believe the former Home Minister.
#9 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 6:44 pm
///he promised more powers to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)///
Yeah, Kit was right. The “additional powers” are only meaningful if the MACC is an independent institution. However, Pakatan will be in trouble if Umno is working through MACC to use the “additional powers” to victimize Pakatan’s leaders and activists.
#10 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 6:55 pm
Many international experts have said we have very good laws in place but why then are we at rock bottom in the rankings? Why is our performance very inadequate? What went / is wrong?
#11 by sheriff singh on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 7:06 pm
What are the ‘additional powers’ Najib talks of that is lacking now? Is the issue a laws issue or a people issue or both? Why does Najib imply it is solely a laws issue that needs fixing? Are the various Supervisory Committees comprising a long list of ’eminent persons’ a failure ? Are they effective or are they retired persons’ clubs?
#12 by mm08 on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 7:58 pm
MACC suppose to be an independant body as far as i know. Why need more power? Why he cannot do more now when he is in power? I can see more corruption only when he in in power. SO are we that stupid to let him bring us to become more corrupt than before? If he cannot perform now, how sure he can ensure that he can perform later another 5 years? Enough is enough. Too much of lies, what kind of policies, what kind of implementation. what kind of law they set for us?? HOw many more one sided agreement they want to sign ? Malaysia will be a better country without THEM leading the country.
#13 by yhsiew on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 10:16 pm
First, cattle-condos, now Farmhouse Supermarkets opened by the same family in Singapore. Malaysia’s next Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is predicted to do a rollercoaster plunge. I wouldn’t be surprised if the index tumbles below 4.0.
#14 by negarawan on Tuesday, 28 February 2012 - 11:32 pm
MACC and PDRM are literally useless and are political eunuchs of UMNO. After several months of so-called “investigation” into NFC, they are still dragging their feet obviously to protect Salizat and family. PKR has done a great job in investigating the NFC scandal, and MACC and PDRM should be truly ashamed of themselves. Instead of protecting the rakyat’s interest, MACC and PDRM are protecting the interest of UMNO. We must vote UMNO and BN out in the coming GE!
#15 by boh-liao on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 12:28 am
Blardi DICTATOR wants absolute power 2 CORRUPT, tot he could play play rakyat
#16 by k1980 on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 7:55 am
Najib will also promise public safety if BN wins 13GE with two-thirds majority. Until then, the umno thugs will reign supreme
http://malaysiakini.com/letters/190413
#17 by k1980 on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 8:04 am
He will also crack down on Shahreezuk’s NFC ONLY if BN wins 13GE with two-thirds majority.
#18 by dagen wanna "ABU" on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 8:34 am
IMO, i think macc and jib are both stuck and dont know what best to do. Like i say, its the world greatest mexican standoff we are now witnessing here in umno. So nobody moves coz else everybody’s gonna die.
Hey, cintanegara. You punya hero jib. He made the stupidest election promise to the people. Yeah the stupidest of all times, definitely.
#19 by k1980 on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 9:12 am
He will also water cintanegara’s rambutan tree ONLY if BN wins 13GE with two-thirds majority. Otherwise, cintanegara’s rambutans will be left to rot
#20 by Winston on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 9:53 am
Just two words to describe the request.
Addled brains!
That is, if such people have any in the first place.
By all means, DAP and the PR coalition can whack them every
which way they can.
But it must always keep its eyes on Putrajaya and concentrate
all its “fire power” in acquiring it in the next GE!
There is no other option.
We are being led by a government gone cuckoo!!!
#21 by k1980 on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 12:45 pm
Reform macc?
Change your self first; reform yourself and you will reform thousands! For starters, stop telling lies to the rakyat
#22 by cseng on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 2:23 pm
Reform MACC?
He say this to MACC staff, you must give us 2/3, we give you extra power.
He say this to Chinese community, you must support MCA, or MCA don’t want to be in gov and we can’t hear your voice.
He say this to Malay community, you must suport Umno or we lost our supremacies.
He say would say this to indian community, you support MIC, or more indian get kills in the lokap..
Without realised what he said, he is just said BN is the problem to all these…
#23 by monsterball on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 - 2:52 pm
Forget about Teoh Beng Hock. UMNO b dare not be truthful to support real justice.
That be so…plenty UMNO b voters need to go to jail….and MACC personnels are Najib’s bodyguards…not guarding and protecting the country and people at all.