VIDEOS INSERTED KUALA LUMPUR - In a step that may lead to more cordial ties and co-operation, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim led senior leaders of his PKR party to a meeting with the Malaysan Anti Corruption Commission on Wednesday to exchange views and discuss ways to cut endemic graft in the country.
The MACC, led by chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, had asked the Opposition to support its request to amend Section 23 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2006.
According to the MACC, the amendment is necessary to plug a loophole that currently allows government servants to award projects or tenders to family members. By tightening the law, tenders would have to be done through the proper public procurement process.
"We have no problems with that," PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar told reporters after the meeting on Wednesday.
Conflict of interest when AG is also adviser to the PM
However, she said the government must also give the MACC the power to prosecute without having to refer to the Attorney-General, Gani Patail, whose independence she questioned.
"These two must go in tandem," said Nurul.
“Some may say that even the Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption does not have this power, and they rely on the attorney-general, but our attorney-general has lost credibility in the eyes of Malaysians. Our AG is also the adviser to the prime minister. So it is insufficient. We want to know after this how many cases were not prosecuted by the AG.
No fangs: Unable to take probes on Taib Mahmud, Musa Aman, Scorpene further
Indeed, the lack of power to prosecute has diminished the effectiveness of the MACC, subjecting it to criticism that it was a paper tiger and subservient to the powers that be.
Prominent cases such as the corruption allegations against Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman as well as Prime Minister Najib Razak himself over the Scorpene submarines illicit commission case have not seen the light of day despite countless reports lodged by members of the public and the Opposition.
According to Fuziah Salleh, the MP for Kuantan who was also at the meeting, the MACC was still investigating these cases but lacked the "fangs" to take the next step as only the AG could give the go-ahead to prosecute.
"Specific cases were mentioned for example affecting the Chief Minister of Sarawak, the Chief Minister of Sabah, the Scorpene case, the Shafie Apdal case, election offenses, bribery, undue influence in election. Those were the issue we confronted them with," Fuziah told reporters.
"We sought for explanation on what are their positions. They explained to us the transformation they would like to see, they also talked at the government procurement process."
"They explained to what extent the investigations have been undertaken but we can share more than that. MACC is a body that wants to practice the best practice but however the law does not provide for it. Meaning to say, it is a body without fangs. It does not have the power to act, to prosecute."
Malaysia Chronicle
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