Enough talk, let’s see the action, MACC

 

Besides keeping a watchful eye on the on-going debates of Budget 2021 and the subsequent vote on Thursday, Malaysians seem to be mesmerised by the series of nefarious, despicable and irreprehensible activities of senior officers from the Immigration Department.

Their activities have been detailed in the media and there is no need for repetition. However, what stands out is the door-to-door service for visit pass and visa extensions. Foreigners through their agents and middlepersons had their documents “certified and legalised” with forged stamps. They didn’t have to do anything except wait in their offices or abodes for their "legalised" passports to be delivered to their doorsteps.

However, this did not cause that much oohs and aahs. Instead, it was the photographs (provided by the MACC) of the collection of luxury cars ranging from an Audi to Rolls Royce, owned supposedly by a junior officer earning a meagre RM1,300 a month that has spread like wildfire on social media.

Then came the bombshell – the officer had a criminal record but was still employed by the department. With questions continuously raised by concerned citizens, nothing has come forward from the department or the Public Services Department on the vetting process.

But don’t uncork the fizz. Three years ago, Malaysians were treated to and enjoyed the same euphoria – courtesy of the same MACC via "Ops Gopi" in May 2017.

In a series of swoops, 13 people including senior officers and the top suspect Gopinathan Krishnan who was described as the key "intermediary" in a major police protection racket across gambling dens and prostitution houses in Malacca. Gopinathan was also said to have made several calls to the then inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, which pooh-poohed the relationship saying many people had his handphone number.

MACC seized RM800,000 from the police quarters of one police corporal. Quoting sources, Sarawak Report said that the arrested officers claimed they had to have been pressured by the intermediaries who had senior contacts at the police headquarters in Bukit Aman to do the collections of cash in order to keep their jobs.

“If they failed to cooperate, they told interviewers, they would be removed and indeed several have been removed for refusing to do so,” the report said.

What happened to the case? There were claims at that time that the MACC dropped the case at the behest of then prime minister following an appeal by Khalid, but this was vehemently denied by then MACC deputy director Azam Baki.

With the change of government and a new MACC chief, one would have expected some drastic action. But no. On Nov 18, 2018, then deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (in charge of law) Mohamed Hanipa Maidin told a stunned Parliament of the grim facts.

“The Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) has ordered the seizure of RM1.03 million in cash and recommended disciplinary action against policemen involved in the controversial 2017 Ops Gopi,” he said.

So, what assurance can we have that the case of immigration officers “enjoying” the same privileges? The cars could be seized and auctioned and whatever monies recovered be confiscated. As an icing on the cake, ask departmental action be taken.

Pardon me for being a cynic, but will the whole operation fizzle like other cases due to “lack of evidence”; “witnesses not coming forward” and “witnesses untraceable”?

To date, we do not know what form of action was taken against the Malacca officers. Perhaps, the corporal would have been promoted to sergeant major and other senior offices put on desk jobs twiddling their thumbs until retirement day.

And lest this saga is forgotten, a reminder to the MACC should be timely. On Oct 8, Azam said the AGC had agreed in principle to charge several parties who were involved in the scandal surrounding the sale of property in Melbourne to Mara Incorporated Sdn Bhd (Mara Inc).

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said the graftbusters were currently waiting for the right time (sic) to file the charges.

“One of them (a suspect) is maybe in Sabah and under quarantine, so we have to set the time. In this case, we will not protect anyone. We are firm. Just wait for the right time,” he said in an interview with the agency's radio station MACC.fm.

We are now at the tail-end of November. The 14-day quarantine would have ended five weeks ago if immediate action was taken. With no action to date, is this a hint that it is habis cerita (end of the story)?

We wait with bated breath for answers and action.

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R NADESWARAN has always supported anti-corruption activities but sometimes feels that the MACC is not putting enough effort into certain cases. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com - Mkini

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.