Anti Corruption

It’s all about fighting corruption, no political conspiracy

Fighting corruption is a very difficult task especially when it is deeply entrenched in our society. Malaysians should no longer tolerate corruption as part and parcel of our life.

Although it needs the strongest political will to fight corruption but the most important factors in combating this malice are government’s accountability and transparency as well as the ability to enforce the laws free from any form of intervention.

Thus the government’s move recently to ensure an independent anti-corruption agency (ACA) is most welcome. Even the opposition parties had lauded the move.

But when ACA arrested two Perak executive council members, they accused the action as politically motivated.

There is no political conspiracy in the arrests of the two Perak executive council members, said Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan.

“We don’t politicize issues. They were suspected of accepting bribes and that was why they were arrested. “We had investigated and charged Umno leaders in the past for graft. We have also charged high-ranking civil servants. This case is no different. “They were allegedly involved and we arrested them. It has nothing to do with politics,” he said.

Ahmad Said also said political parties, non-governmental organizations and other quarters should cooperate with the agency to eradicate corruption. “We just cannot let them go.

If the people in power are corrupt, don’t expect us as the enforcement agency to just listen and see, without reacting.” He thanked the public for information leading to the arrests of the exco members and four others in this latest case.

“Even if the DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Umno or other parties for that matter, have information on graft, they should inform us.”

WHO HAS WHAT ENSURE A CORRUPT-FREE GOVERNMENT

A chilling effect on who would turn up in Parliament and state assembly? In an unprecedented move, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced on March 17 that he would be compelling cabinet ministers and their deputies to publicly declare their assets.

It is a good move that all ministers and deputy ministers must declare their assets to ensure a corrupt-free government.

Ironically, the compulsory asset declaration by all ministers and deputy ministers and their spouses plus immediate family members will be available online for public viewing would have a chilling effect on who would turn up in Parliament and state assembly.

Logically, if BN ministers have to disclose their financial interests, the same rule should apply to the all opposition state EXCO too.

Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim said that some state exco members have reservations about publicly declaring their wealth that do not want their shareholding information to be made public due to "family reasons" is not buying. Because before the elections, opposition parties promised that they would declare their assets, so it seems that they have to walk the talk, don’t talk the walk.