MACC gets a tongue-lashing
By Stephanie Sta Maria, Free Malaysia Today
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) received an unexpected hammering at a public forum yesterday for its continuing ambivalence towards combating corruption.
The forum, entitled “Reforming Political Financing in Malaysia”, was organised by Transparency International Malaysia (TIM) as part of its nationwide campaign to mobilise public support for its 22 recommended reforms.
However, the spotlight instantly fell on the MACC after panellist and former vice-chancellor of University Sains Malaysia, Professor Ishak Tambi Kechick, appeared to make a benevolent appraisal of its performance.
While he acknowledged that the MACC should be given complete independence and more bite, he also said that it had not done too badly considering its young age and constraints.
“The MACC is saddled with limitations,” he explained. “It’s being treated like a government department in that it severely lacks funds and manpower. It needs more money and teeth to do its job.”
Despite the flaying that the MACC has received in the past year, Ishak believed that public perception is improving and urged the public to give it more time to right itself.
“We just have to be patient,” he said. “After all, the MACC was only formed two years ago. Things will improve with stronger public involvement in corruption issues. And the current bad perception will force the MACC to do better.”
Ishak’s words drew a scathing response from forum attendee and former Bar Council president, Ambiga Sreenevasan, who rejected his opinion of the MACC outright.
“I don’t buy the excuse of insufficient resources,” she said. “If funds are lacking, then march into the prime minister’s office and demand for more. If you don’t get it, then resign en bloc! I’m sick and tired of talking about constraints.”
“If something isn’t working, then think outside the box of a way to make it work. The real obstacle here is lack of political will. The MACC was modelled after Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) but is nowhere near it.”
Ambiga recalled a previous conversation with the MACC chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohamed during which he backed a proposal to encourage public declaration of assets of politicians and the judiciary. His statement was reported in the media and received a slamming from the ministers.
“There wasn’t a squeak from the MACC after that,” she said. “Are you telling me that you don’t have enough clout to push a good idea to the prime minister?”
“It just shows that the MACC isn’t really serious about eradicating corruption. But if and when it is, we promise that we will throw our full support behind it. ”
Change of robes
Another speaker Subang Jaya MP, Sivarasa Rasiah, pointed out the inaccuracy in Ishak’s statement that the MACC is only two years old.
He reminded Ishak that the MACC is merely a change of robes from its predecessor, the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), and that nothing had changed apart from its name.
