Nazri, are you protecting the A-G because he didn't prosecute your son

Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz has no business to interfere in MACC’s investigations. Do not hit below the belt of the officers as they do not have the recourse to rebut you – STOP BEING A BULLY.

The de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has no business interfering in Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s investigations. Nazri is just a parliamentarian and a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Parliament’s administration and also to coordinate parliamentary affairs.

His job is to kick the butts in Parliament, not use political powers to bully MACC officials who have the courage to fight corruption. Nazri has no standing to tell MACC deputy chief Shukri Abdull how to run or manage anti-corruption cases and to belittle him as “weak”.

Is not MACC supposed to be independent?

Has Nazri forgotten that the MACC is, supposedly, independent? In fact, Shukri is “strong and brave” to expose Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Gani Patail’s reluctance to prosecute the many MACC cases it investigated against those who hold high public office. Shukri should not be discouraged or intimidated by Nazri’s bullying ways. He should, instead, start investigating Nazri’s assets to determine whether his income can support his and his son’s lavish lifestyle.

Why is Nazri defending the attorney-general and attacking the MACC? Both are supposed to be independent. Well, if Shukri is weak, then the AG is most definitely lame if he requires Nazri to defend him.

Disgusting and disgraceful

This is again a classic example of interference by the executive in the affairs of the MACC. The attorney-general has been cited for corruption and breach of ethics umpteenth times and no one has dared act on him. How powerful can the AG be?

Nazri explained that corruption charges would cause great shame to the accused and therefore the A-G’s Chambers must act diligently, and charge the accused in court only if there is concrete evidence. Just like they did to ex-CCID (Commercial Crimes Investigation Department) chief Ramli Yusuff and his men?

Nazri’s attitude disgraces the Prime Minister’s office by using threats against senior civil servants who have the courage to act, especially against graft by those who hold high public office.

Nazri is also defending the alleged collusion between former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and a serving A-G to victimise police officers and the apparent influence of an underworld figure in the promotions of police officers. It is definitely not Nazri’s business to chastise Shukri for lamenting that the A-G’s chambers had refused to charge graft suspects investigated by the commission.

Why is Nazri defending the A-G?

Malaysians are now asking whether Nazri is protecting the A-G’s chambers just because the A-G is under his portfolio or is it because of other reasons? 'Is Nazri protecting the attorney-general because the AG is under his portfolio, or is it because of other reasons?'

Why is Nazri defending the A-G and attacking the MACC? Both are supposed to be independent and is another classic example of interference by the executive into the affairs of the MACC.

The A-G has been cited for corruption and breach of ethics umpteenth times but no one has dared act on him. How powerful can the A-G be? The MACC should seize the opportunity to show Nazri’s its muscles by revealing all the high-profile cases referred to the A-G but not prosecuted.

Is Nazri returning A-G's favor for not prosecuting son?

To Malaysians, Shukri is a strong civil servant and Nazri is not only weak, he is clearly trying to use his political clout to serve his self-serving agenda.

When the government is a questionable government, as amplified by the National Feedlot Corporation’s Cowgate Scandal, where corruption is rampant and the trading of favours and protectionism are prevalent, Nazri should know better than to make a fool of himself and his high office. It only exposes your sheer arrogance as well as being above the law since you call yourself law minister.

All should note that Shukri is a 27-year professional corruption-buster and he is competent to know what he is saying or doing. We know the truth hurts but Nazri must be reminded that sweeping the criminal wrongdoing under the carpet has been protracted and the stench is unbearable.

Instead of dispensing justice, Nazri suppresses and twists cases, avoiding to address the public-interest issues that short change law-abiding tax-paying Malaysians.

The A-G’s Chambers did not prosecute Nazri’'s son for allegedly assaulting a security guard. Is t is Nazri’s turn to return the favour?

Is this a classic case of you scratch my back and I scratch yours?

Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin is a prominent citizen and a former member of the MACC advisory panel