When is corruption, not corruption?

 

Is Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim really a reformist, or is he just a contented man?

We lurch from one controversial misstep to another, then wonder whether Anwar’s earlier promise of cleaning up the government is on the back-burner now that he’s happy, having graduated from prime-minister-in-waiting to prime minister.

He’s achieved his life-long ambition to be prime minister whilst the rakyat are scrabbling around wondering if they have been deceived, yet again.

How does one explain the seizure of Swatch rainbow watches, Jakim’s inclusion in national policy-making, the harmonisation of federal and syariah laws, websites being blocked, the Hadith-40 module in the school curriculum, the insensitivity of the public conversion of a former Hindu, and the lack of political will to punish politicians who polarise the rakyat with the 3Rs?

Perhaps the straw that may eventually break the camel’s back is Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) for 47 charges in the Yayasan Akalbudi case.

It makes of mockery of Anwar’s pledge to fight corruption!

So, when is corruption, not a corrupt act?

Is it when the attorney-general (AG) says it isn’t or is corruption only a corrupt act when the people of power and influence who run the country (the establishment) decide?

A PR failure

Zahid’s DNAA is no small matter, especially as the anti-corruption pledge was Anwar’s battle cry for 15th general election, and he reiterated his promise as leader of the new ruling coalition.

No one is suggesting that the prime minister had interfered in Zahid’s case but it is clear that the PM’s Department bungled the publicity over this announcement.

Like most controversial issues in Malaysia, they are probably hoping that the rakyat will forget about Zahid’s DNAA.

More importantly, have there been any politicians whose cases were restarted for the same offence after they were granted a DNAA? Probably none.

Why did Anwar’s publicity machinery badly manage the DNAA announcement? Did the PM’s Department adopt a lackadaisical, tidak-apa attitude and simply fail to take stock of the situation?

Zahid’s DNAA is a matter of public interest. So when will the AG’s Chambers, or the AG provide the detailed explanation?

The DNAA is no trivial matter and Anwar’s public relations gurus should have been prepared for whatever the outcome, including that which allows the case to proceed to its conclusion.

They should have foreseen the ensuing repercussions of a DNAA and controlled further damage to Anwar.

Instead, the PM’s Department and the communications and digital minister have failed the Malaysian public because the country is once again thrown into turmoil. Isn’t the cabinet interested in stability?

How can Anwar hope to rebuild Malaysia, attract foreign investors, and prop up the economy with the perception that corruption has been normalised?

Where are the deterrents? Corrupt politicians, various individuals, and companies who give and receive bribes are not being punished.

Last December, there were allegations that Anwar had promised to free those with court cases in exchange for their cooperation to form the coalition government.

Naturally, Anwar denied making these secret deals; but with the development on Sept 4, is it any wonder that many Malaysians are suspicious?

The nation is fed up with corrupt politicians and despite them being charged with several counts of corruption, money laundering, and criminal breach of trust, there has been a slew of high-ranking politicians escaping scot-free with a DNAA or an outright acquittal.

Either the system needs reform or the judiciary is allegedly tainted.

Tainted brethrens

Amongst other things, the impression given to the outside world is that justice is available to the highest bidder, especially as poorer people cannot afford smart lawyers to defend them and get them freed.

So, having placed a lot of faith in Anwar’s GE15 anti-corruption pledge, many members of the rakyat will say that the buck stops with the leader.

As PM, Anwar should accept some responsibility for the latest blunder that has torn Malaysia apart. Will he do something about it instead of just talking about it?

The longer doubts remain about Zahid’s DNAA, the more unstable Anwar’s government appears.

The irony is that the ruling unity government presides over a disunited nation.

The Madani administration is torn apart by poor or inadequate leadership, politicians who lack personal integrity, and no political will to confront the many challenges brought about by corruption.

For over a decade, former cabinet members of the convicted felon, Najib Abdul Razak, were seduced by his “Arab prince donation of RM2.6 billion” which was actually money stolen from Malaysian taxpayers.

Some of the Umno-Baru MPs who protested Najib’s innocence then are now members of the coalition government.

They were either eye-wateringly stupid to believe Najib’s lie, or they were beneficiaries in one form or another. Today, we are forced to accept these tainted MPs to rule the nation.

All about education

We have sufficient laws to curb corruption, accompanied by robust rules and regulations.

However, enforcement is poor and more funding is needed. Our administrations lack transparency and there is no strict adherence to due process.

Education is key but successive administrations prefer to keep the rakyat ignorant.

Many people including those in kampungs and the urban poor, fail to make the connection between corruption and limited access to amenities, infrastructure, healthcare, education, other accompanying facilities (eg green areas or sports complexes), or the poor remuneration in the public service.

Before we can curb corruption, we should ask our leaders whether they are serious about fighting corruption. - Mkini

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MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, Twitter.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.