'Cable-connection' to corrupt civil servants

It is hard to shake the perception that the culture of corruption is synonymous with civil servants in Malaysia.

Even the chief secretary to the government, Sidek Hassan, admitted a whopping 41 percent of those of charged with corruption were civil servants.

Whether it is cheating on medical certificates or asking for an extra buck to 'close one eye' to an impending traffic summons, the tales are all too familiar.

However, former Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Shafee Yahaya (right) - who was in the civil service for 33 years - says there is more to such claims.

“You have to look at the whole scenario. It depends on the particular ministry or department. Of course it is headed by the director-general. But ultimately, it won't happen if there are noconnections or (an) interested party,” he said.

“To say that the civil service or politicians are completely corrupt is not right because, sometimes, it's a combination of both ....

“Sometimes, it is the politician who is corrupt, (and) pressures the civil servants to abet or look the other way and rewards them at the same time. The civil servants sometime risk persecution by saying 'No'.”

Shafee dismissed the notion that corruption is a 'victimless' crime, pointing out that there is always someone who ends up with the short end of the stick in corrupt activities.

“Those who will in the end suffer the most are the poor, the disadvantaged and those who cannot pull strings.

“Corruption comes in various forms, whether it is nepotism, cronyism or simply inflating costs. It will cost the public, (as they) won't get good return of investment. This will lead to a higher cost of living.

“Imagine if a road costs RM10 million to build and, because of corruption, (the bill) comes up to RM30 million. Who will foot the bill?”

Smarter 'big fish'

But Shafee is fully aware of the obstacles in pinning down those involved in corruption.

“For a big fish, you need a bigger net. And the bigger fish are smarter,” he said.

Recalling cases of overseas transactions, bogus companies, foreign middlemen and sticky extradition processes, he said that methods of corruption are always evolving.

“And it is up to us (the anti-graft agency) to stay a step ahead of them,” he said.

While the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is attempting to do so, Shafee is doubtful if it much can be achieved if it does not have independent prosecutorial powers.

“Without the power to prosecute, only the attorney-general (AG) can give consent to charge someone. Maybe this has to be (re-examined).

“Now there seems to be a split - (the MACC to investigate and the AG's Chambers to charge). They may be a bottleneck.”

Even though Shafee is spending his retirement years in relative bliss, he keeps an interested eye on MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed, who had worked under him as a director.

Shafee offered him a word of advice, saying that he should not forget to watch over MACC itself.

“For those who are prone to corruption, he will have to combat this within his own ranks. He has to remember to work without fear or favour because, in the end, he is only answerable to his creator.”

courtesy of Malaysiakini