The appointment of the new MACC chief commissioner, Abdul Halim Aman, which will take effect on May 13, does not inspire confidence in the Madani government's and Anwar Ibrahim's commitment to fighting the corruption plaguing our country.
One would have expected that with all the problems facing the outgoing commissioner, the premier could have taken the opportunity to recommend the appointment of a much more well-known person with proven, impeccable qualifications to show he was serious.
But what he has chosen is a relative lightweight who has made no major impact during his long tenure in the judiciary, rising only to the position of a High Court judge after 41 years in the judicial services.
This new insipid appointment comes some 10 months after the appointment of a new chief justice, Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, who inexplicably jumped 34 other Court of Appeal and Federal Court judges, skipping many other potentially better candidates.
These appointments damage Anwar’s reputation, sidelining others much more highly regarded, leaving open to speculation why he would make such tame appointments for two of the positions most under the public glare.
A demanding job
One wonders what is exceptional about Halim that he is brought out of retirement at the ripe old age of 69 to the demanding job of heading the MACC, which is facing the brunt of public rage over its outgoing commissioner.
Azam Baki is the subject of an investigation into share trading and allegations that he and the MACC are part of a “corporate mafia,” as highlighted in a long, detailed Bloomberg report.
What outstanding qualifications does Halim have to deal with some of these major allegations made against MACC and bring its image up from its current depths? How has he shown that he is capable of such action?
His profile does not show any outstanding qualities despite a 41-year career in the judicial service, reaching the level of High Court judge in 2007, and remaining there for some 16 years.
He retired as a High Court judge in 2023, only to be brought back as head of MACC.
Qualities required
What are the qualities that an MACC chief commissioner should have? First, the person must likely have the ability to understand, investigate and charge high-level corruption at all levels, which is a major problem in the country. Anwar admits as much.
Surely, Halim does not fit the bill, not because he has a tainted past or anything like that, but his background is not the right one for the job. Even as a magistrate and judge, his major judgments were made in the criminal area, not in corruption cases.
Second, if the candidate comes from a different field, he must have shown exceptional ability in that area so that he has the intellectual capacity, stamina and grit to quickly learn the business and move forward. We can’t see that in Halim’s case.
Third, the person must not only have exceptional integrity but must have demonstrated that she/he is prepared to take steps to defend that in the face of strong pressure in any form - public, political, religious or racial - and stay above the fray.
Considering that Halim did not rise to that level where his abilities would have been tested and that he is already in retirement, means that he is not a suitable candidate for this hot seat, which requires outstanding proven ability, unquestioned and demonstrated integrity and honesty, and the grit to withstand pressures and perform nevertheless.
Why not Maimun?
This is an appointment for a person with strong investigative skills in addition to the three qualities we mentioned earlier. Would it not have been more appropriate to get someone who has done good services in the other enforcement arms, such as the police, judiciary and even within the MACC itself?
Some names that come to mind who appear to have not been considered at all include former chief justice Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat, 67, two years younger than Halim.
If anyone should be brought out of retirement, it’s she. Give her a three-year contract, and I bet not a single Malaysian would doubt that she would make the MACC cleaner than it has ever been and put the right people in place to make major changes in fair and efficient enforcement above all.
There are other names if there is a will to find the right people to bring real, positive change. All this appointment demonstrates is that there is no commitment, and the powers that be have no intention of changing the status quo. - Mkini
P GUNASEGARAM says that just as fish rot from the head, real sustainable change can only come from the top. Our leaders have been miserable failures.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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