Law to prevent sale of Bumi contracts or permits being studied

The Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre says the ‘most dangerous’ thing in the country was the acceptance of the ‘Ali Baba’ culture as the norm.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC) will study the possibility of introducing a law against economic sabotage to prevent the sale of contracts and rental of permits.

GIACC director-general Abu Kassim Mohamed said individuals who continue the “Ali Baba” practice of selling their contracts can also be considered traitors to the nation.

He said the “most dangerous” thing in the country was the acceptance of the “Ali Baba” culture as the norm.

“We want to take action against those who are involved in this practice, particularly Bumiputera businessmen.

“If they get a contract and sell it, legal action must be taken. The same goes for those who buy these contracts,” he said at the Congress on the Future of The Bumiputeras and Nation 2018 in KLCC.

Abu said the GIACC will study whether the law, proposed by the Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM), can be implemented before submitting a proposal to the Cabinet.

He said the lack of laws to protect the special rights and privileges of the Bumiputeras, enshrined under Article 153, resulted in the abuse of these privileges.

“Everyone wants policy-makers to do the right thing. The same goes for government officers, but you yourself don’t do the right things.

“We’re talking about what is enshrined in the Federal Constitution since Merdeka, but the problem is that those who betray Article 153 aren’t punished.”

He added it was pointless for the government to develop good policies if the people, particularly contractors and businessmen, didn’t possess the integrity in the implementation of the policies. -FMT