‘MACC’s suspension of three means nothing’

Civil society leaders are calling for a complete institutional overhaul and an independent monitoring body for all enforcement agencies.

PETALING JAYA: The rolling of three heads in the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is not sufficient and the blade of justice needs to plunge deeper, according to civil society leaders.

They were responding to the suspension of three MACC officers in relation to the death of former Selangor political aide, Teoh Beng Hock.

Tenaganita’s Irene Fernadez casts doubts on the MACC’s internal inquiry, saying that it will amount to nothing as there needs to be a complete institutional overhaul.

“The internal investigation and the suspension mean nothing at all. A domestic inquiry will only serve to continue ‘the blue wall of protectionism’ .

“Like the RCI (Royal Commission of Inquiry) report claims, MACC officers will only look out for each other in the name of brotherhood,” she told FMT.

Rather, she added, there needs to be an independent body to hold these officers accountable.

“There needs to be a mechanism like the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to oversee all such enforcement agencies,” she said.

She also brushed aside the changes that MACC said it will implement such as installing CCTV cameras and having “interview video rooms”.

“These are minor changes that basically do not make any fundamental changes where the institution is concerned,” she added.

‘Culture of impunity, torture’

Suaram director Kua Kia Siong stressed that there needs to be a change in mind-set in the enforcement agencies.

“This culture of impunity, harassment, torture by no means is limited to MACC. It is a culture in the police and other enforcement agencies and a culture in the government to some extent,” he said.

Asked if MACC is paying attention to public sentiments by suspending its officers, Kua admitted that the commission is listening but it is not enough as MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed is pushing the buck down to the officers rather than taking responsibility.

Chairman of the Civil Rights Committee of the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Liau Kok Fah, said that the suspension comes a “little too late”.

“They should have suspended them from the day of Teoh’s death and remain suspended until proven innocent,” he said, adding that he has no faith in the internal inquiry either.

“The last time they had an internal inquiry immediately after Teoh’s death, I remember, the then Selangor MACC depuy director Hishamuddin Hashim (one of those suspended) was promoted as Negri Sembilan MACC director.

“The police should investigate the three for abetting suicide instead,” he added.

The RCI report released on July 21 said that Teoh committed suicide due to aggressive interrogation. It named Hishamuddin and two other enforcement officers Mohd Anuar Ismail (then the investigating officer) and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus as the culprits.