Kit Siang: After 'kleptocrats', nation must now take on 'sharks'

Now that Pakatan Harapan has spent the first year in power dealing with "kleptocrats", its attention should now be turned on "sharks", said DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang.

Adopting a term made famous by Rais Yatim as law minister in 2008 , Lim said going after "sharks" ought to be part of Harapan's ongoing war on corruption.

"Almost a decade ago, before the kleptocrats took over Malaysia, the sharks roamed the land. But while China was catching 'tigers' and Indonesia 'crocodiles', the sharks in Malaysia continued to enjoy immunity and impunity until they were replaced by the kleptocrats.

"Let the first year of the Harapan government in Putrajaya be the year of the kleptocrats while the second year be the year against sharks in the war against corruption," Lim said in a statement today.

In 2008, Rais had announced that the authorities were going after "18 sharks" - an euphemism for corrupt top officials. However, more than a decade later, the authorities never announced if reeled in any of the 18.

For now, Lim said one way of handling "sharks" was to implement the much-delayed Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

He said the public ought to show their full support towards efforts to transform the Malaysian police force into one of the "cleanest" and most incorruptible police forces in the world.

Pointing to past surveys which showed that the police consistently fared poorly in terms of public opinion, Lim was confident that the IPCMC would turn things around.

He said it was heartening to know that the police now have a change of leaders who might be able to serve as role models in the fight against graft.

"The objective of the new Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador - to eradicate corruption in the police force - is a very tall order and he deserves the support of all right-thinking Malaysians," said Lim.

Hamid was appointed as the top cop earlier this month and securing police consent to the IPCMC had been one of his immediate priorities.

A week after taking the job, Hamid led a police delegation to a dialogue with the National Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre (GIACC).

It was decided then that the police would not object to the IPCMC as long as some of their concerns are addressed.

The cabinet is expected to study the bill after Hari Raya.  - mkini