The “revolving door” of Malaysia
Such a complicated relationship between business and politics could be traced back to the “joint company” concept promoted during the era of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as the entrepreneurial cultivation plan.
By LIM SUE GOAN/Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/Sin Chew Daily
“Corruption is a way of life in Malaysia.” It is a fact that almost everyone knows. But surprisingly, not many people know that “several UMNO politicians are involved in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) Project.”
The Global Corruption Report (GCR) 2009 released by Transparency International revealed that the PKFZ fiasco involved UMNO politicians, Transport Ministry's officials, Port Klang Authority officials and Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd. The report also described the common thread running through politics, the civil service and private sector as a “revolving door”.
The report pointed out that the crux of the worsening corruption problem is, corruption is not limited to the police force and other low-level officials. Instead, it involves the close relationship between the government, business and politics. According to the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2008, Malaysia was ranked the 47th among the 180 countries with the score of 5.1. it had slipped four steps down compared to the previous year. Another study pointed out that 42% of Malaysian public generally believe that political party is the most common area of corruption. On the other hand, Indonesia, which was originally seen as facing a far worse corruption problem, has progressed much in fighting against corruption.
| "What roles are senior officials in the Transport Ministry playing?" |
The GCR 2009 stated that “individuals move from government to business or business to politics and back again. Such a thread, in effect, negates the concept of check and balance.” The PKFZ scandal is the best example. Why a company with the person in charge having a strong political background could get such a large project? What roles are senior officials in the Transport Ministry playing?
Such a complicated relationship between business and politics could be traced back to the “joint company” concept promoted during the era of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, as well as the entrepreneurial cultivation plan. In order to achieve its political agenda, the government sector gave convenience to entrepreneurs with political backgrounds. As a result, the relationship between business and politics has been indistinguishable while political patronage and money politics have gone rampant.
Because of political backgrounds and factors, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which is lack of independence, could never start the investigation on political patronage and money politics.
In order to curb the interrelationship between business and politics, political reform should not be neglected. Political leaders should not see the common thread running through politics, the civil service and private sector as a normal and reasonable phenomenon. Instead, the investigation on the PKFZ scandal should be the start of a comprehensive anti-corruption movement to clarify and standardise the relationship between business and politics. The government may refer to developed countries' business and politics relationship regulatory system and laws to strictly prevent corruption in the government sector.
However, it is worrying that whether the focus of the investigation on the PKFZ scandal will be blurred by the “Internet posting of leaked Cabinet papers”?
The investigation on the PKFZ scandal does not only related to the government's integrity, but as well the government's anti-corruption commitments. It is now the crucial moment to clean up the business and political dark corners.
