Graft confab a sandiwara, says Robert Phang

The ex-MACC advisor belittles the international conference, calling it a waste of time unless allegations against Gani Patail are addressed.

KUALA LUMPUR: A former MACC adviser has poured scorn on the international anti-corruption conference that begins here tomorrow, calling it a waste of time and an occasion for the Malaysian government to pretend that that it is serious about fighting graft.

Robert Phang, who resigned from the MACC advisory panel last year, said today that the sixth conference of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities would be worthwhile only if the Malaysian delegation were to use it as an opportunity to address long-standing allegations against Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail.

The conference “looks good on the macro scale”, he told FMT. “But when it comes down to the real deal, the micro, it doesn’t address anything. It will put on a good show, pretending that the MACC and government mean business in combating corruption.

“The message from Malaysia has to be clear. Under current practices, the AG’s powers seem absolute. There are corruption allegations against him, but how can MACC act properly when prosecution powers lie solely with the AG’s Chambers?”

Phang has been openly critical of Gani since early last year, after the Malaysia Today blog published allegations that latter had gone on his Haj pilgrimage with Shahidan Shafie, who was said to be a proxy of former MAS chairman Tajudin Ramli. Tajudin was under investigation by the MACC.

Frightening

He has also criticised Gani over allegations that he enjoyed close links with Vincent Lye, a director of construction giant Ho Hup, and that he had a hand in investigations against one of Lye’s rivals.

“Is the AG answerable to the Prime Minister, or Parliament, or the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Aziz?” Phang said in today’s interview.

“Is he answerable to anyone? To think about it, it is very frightening that he seems invulnerable.”

He also referred to lawyer Zainal Abidin Ahmad’s recent book, “Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail: Pemalsu, Penipu, Penjenayah (Fraud, Liar, Criminal)?” He complained that no investigation had been carried out to verify Zainal Abidin’s allegations.

“This book is widely available. I’ve lodged a police report on it. But what action has been done to investigate if these allegations against the AG are true? Why is he keeping mum if they are not true?”

Phang said police had interviewed him over his report and the first thing he was asked was: “What’s your motive?”

Conspiracy

He also criticised Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia for rejecting a question from Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai on the status of police investigations into allegations contained in the book.

“I’m surprised that even Parliament is not bothered. People are asking if this was a conspiracy or cover-up.”

Phang, a well-known philanthropist, said he had no personal agenda against Gani, that he was merely fighting for justice in his capacity as the head of the Social Care Foundation.

He also alleged that the current MACC Advisory Board includes a member who is a legal consultant for the AG’s office, which he said amounted to a conflict of interest.

“He should step down,” he said, without naming the individual. “The MACC commissioner Abu Kassim, if he is not aware, should take note of this.”