Anti-Corruption Drive -- Too Much Talk

And hardly any observable action.
Especially against the BIG FISH.
Especially against political crocodiles.
Also, against their Corporate Cronies.


Two items from The People's Paper, but this MSM is reluctantn to raise related issues and ask the right questions of the DPM or Minister in the PM's Department, like:

(1) WHAT has happened to the 18 high-profilre cases broadcast by Minister Rais Yatim before his portfolio was taken away from him and shunted into obscurity -- or is it oblivion for being too bold for his own good?

(2) WHAT's happening to the complaints lodged by former Sabah ACA director Mohd Ramli Manan against just retired ACA director-general, Datuk Zulkipli Mat Noor, of graft and sexual misconduct?


(3) WHY is the Government so reluctant to place the Anti-Corruption Agency under Parliament so that it's truly independent and can do its job without fear or favour?

THREE questions are enough for now so that the DPM and his obedient Ministers won't get a headache, or suffer memory loss, or conveniently take sick leave. But should they follow the paths trodden by the late SAs from Machap and Ijok, you think any clear-headed and thinking Malaysians will lament their departure? Honestly speaking, Desi won't.

Tuesday April 24, 2007


Government all out to fight corruption, says Najib


KUALA LUMPUR: Fighting corruption remains a national mission and the Government is all out to eradicate graft.

“Some people might be quick to say that the Government is not serious in fighting corruption or that the Prime Minister is the only person speaking on this subject,” said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“But let me remind every one that this is not just the agenda of the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is firmly behind him on this,” Najib said in his keynote address on the third anniversary of the National Integrity Plan (NIP) and Integrity Institute of Malaysia.

He said corruption and bribery were a menace to the healthy development of a democratic society and that the public have shown greater concern over corruption cases in the country, especially in the public sector, since the NIP was implemented.

“The NIP is slowly changing the people’s values. For a start they are already asking for greater transparency within the public service.”

Najib said he believed that the future was bright for Malaysia to continue to be an island of integrity for years to come, given the Prime Minister’s sense of honesty and the political mandate the Cabinet enjoyed.


Book launch: Najib launching a book entitled Good Governance for Development after delivering his keynote address at the event while McKinnon looks on.
Earlier, an Integrity Forum featured Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad and International Institute of Public Ethics director Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim as panellists.

Shahrir held that corruption would never truly be stamped out unless a definite timeline was set and real action was taken to eradicate the menace.

He said a definite date for zero tolerance to corrupt practice must be set for the NIP to have a real impact.

“We know that certain Cabinet ministers or deputy ministers are very rich and have made money from such practices in the past.

“Setting a timeline means they must now stop accumulating their wealth in such a way. It means no more excuses,” said Shahrir, who is also the Public Accounts Committee chairman.

Shahrir was responding to a question by Transparency International-Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam who asked why there was no urgency in dealing with corruption since corruption or the perception of corruption was so widespread.

Earlier in his speech, Shahrir said the NIP should not cease to exist after its five-year target and in fact be built upon and strengthened whenever a new Parliament is formed after a general election.

“Parliament is at the level to effect change as outlined in the plan and it should not be done just to fulfil expectations but much more than that. The real issue here is public confidence.”

DESI: Deputy Prime Minister, my only comment to first statement (THUS BOLDED): REALLY?

My comment to your second statement: PRECISELY, That's what we the Rakyat have been saying!
_____________________________________________



Corruption causes poverty, says McKinnon


KUALA LUMPUR: Get rid of corruption and bad leadership and poverty will become history, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon said yesterday.

Noting the obvious link between poverty and corruption, he said:

“Corruption is public enemy No.1 to the two things we hold dearest in the Commonwealth – democracy and development.”

“It tends to be the poor who suffer most, it leads to children without adequate schooling, and to people of all ages without adequate healthcare.”

McKinnon was speaking at the third anniversary of the launch of the National Integrity Plan and the establishment of the Malaysian Institute of Integrity.

In his speech titled The Cancer of Corruption: The Ideal Integrity, he referred to the expressions duit kopi (coffee money) in Malaysia and du the (some tea) in Mauritius, saying they implied that corruption “doesn’t really matter, its only small change, no one gets hurt”.

“But corruption is much more. Amongst other things, it is bribery, nepotism, kickbacks, shady dealings, cartels and rigged elections,” he said.

During the question-and-answer session, fellow panellist Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said he would be looking at the Attorney-General’s Chamber’s study on having a Whistleblower’s Act soon.

Asked whether the Anti-Corruption Agency could be placed under a Parliamentary Select Committee, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said it would be not be fair.

“In an all-party parliamentary committee, the Barisan Nasional would get 13 seats, one for each of its coalition parties. Also, as we are strongly affiliated to our party and we tend to make decisions along party lines.

“I want to be frank, if a matter is raised in Parliament and the Opposition says they want a minister brought before a committee, I would say ‘yes’ because I know I would be acquitted because of the majority we have.”

Earlier, in his paper, Nazri said Malaysia aimed to improve on its score of 5.0 (in TI’s Corruption Perception Index) last year to 6.5 next year.

DESI: to Nazri's first statement (partly bolded, italicised))

Just go ahead to legislate on The Whistle-blower's Act, don't talk till the cows come home.

On Nazri's second statement that it would NOT be fair to have the ACA under Parliament, Desi's comment is:

"Not fair" to Barisan Nasional politicians and cronies, is it?

I rest. My case.
Too many cases will cause my BP to rise.
Also tension headache.

PS: I may not blog for sext few days. Same, sama.
Quoting mGf Maverick again: CAKAP TAK SERUPA BIKIN!