Lawyer Mahajoth Singh, who rose to prominence after representing Albert Tei - the businessperson who exposed the Sabah mining scandal - is hoping to cast a spell on corruption with a newly formed independent advocacy initiative focused on institutional accountability and the rule of law.
Mahajoth said the initiative, known as Malaysians Against Governmental and Institutional Corruption (Magic), was formed late last year.
Asked what prompted him to establish Magic, he replied: “Because the government’s complicity in corruption has reached an unbearable level.
“Not only we see no real action on complaints made against those who are holding the highest position but worse still, those who do expose corruption are arrested, charged and mocked at,” he said, citing the Sabah scandal and the corruption charges against Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has since been granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).
In its maiden media statement, Magic highlighted reports that police officers from the Bachok district police headquarters in Kelantan allegedly extorted RM6,000 from the mother of a drug suspect last month.
Mahajoth stressed that when enforcement officers exploit the powers of arrest and prosecution for personal gain, state authority is being abused.
“That is corruption,” he emphasised.
He added that such matters should not be handled through “internal” or “disciplinary” channels, as doing so would misrepresent both the severity and legal character of the criminal act.
“Treating allegations of this nature as an administrative issue sends a corrosive institutional signal, e.g., that extortion perpetrated by abuse of official authority may be managed internally rather than prosecuted.
“This weakens deterrence, erodes public confidence, and undermines the rule of law. Where conduct is prima facie criminal, it must be pursued through criminal investigation. Disciplinary processes cannot replace prosecution,” he added.
Remember PM’s pledges
Mahajoth recalled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s commitment that the Madani government would act firmly against corruption, without distinction between friends or foes.
He argued that this commitment must be reflected not merely in public statements, but in the legal classification and treatment of misconduct at the operational level.
“Magic calls upon the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail to ensure that this matter is not quietly resolved behind internal processes.
“The officers involved must be publicly identified upon conclusion of investigations, and the public kept informed of the legal outcomes. There must be transparency,” he said.
Mahajoth noted that, since the alleged conduct of the police officers involves the solicitation of gratification and abuse of public office, the matter falls within the statutory mandate of the MACC.
“Magic, therefore, calls upon MACC to commence an independent investigation into this matter,” he added.
Probe ongoing
On Monday, Kelantan police chief Yusoff Mamat said an internal investigation was launched on Dec 30, immediately after the allegations surfaced.
He added that police will rearrest the man who was freed after his family allegedly paid the RM6,000 to four police officers.
“We are still conducting investigations into the case even though all four personnel have returned the money to the man's family," he said, vowing that the probe would be transparent and in accordance with the law. - Mkini
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