Go after politicians too, graft watchdog tells MACC
(MMO) – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should widen their investigations to cover high-profile politicians who live beyond their means, the local chapter of Transparency International (TI-M) said today.
It noted the commission’s recent “aggressive crackdown” on graft in the public sector, but emphasised that tough action needed to be taken against politicians who are chosen to represent the people to create laws and decide on policy.
“Investigation on politicians should be conducted in all aspects of anti-corruption legislation — against those who live beyond their means and anti-money laundering acts for money trail investigation, as this will deter others from being involved in corrupt practices,” TI-M president Datuk Akhbar Satar said in a statement.
He pointed to the Malaysian Corruption Barometer (MAC) 2014 Survey, which showed politicians and political parties as topping the list of most corrupt to many people, with the police and civil servants coming in second and third place.
“The findings from the survey points to the fact that the public do not see politicians as individuals with integrity or as transparent and accountable as they should be,” Akhbar said.
He noted though that the MACC’s statistics showed that only two politicians have been arrested out of 670 total arrests last year, adding that the same number were also arrested this month. He did not disclose their identities in his statement.
However, he said most of those arrested were likely not “high profile cases as they were not published in the media”.
Akhbar’s remarks come after Sabah Opposition politicians called on the MACC to widen investigations to cover other state agencies after the Sabah Water Department’s top two officials were arrested for alleged corruption amounting to hundreds of millions earlier this month.
He urged the MACC to carry out their investigations professionally and transparently to boost public confidence even as he vouched that they have not been selective as perceived, adding that few were aware of the limits of the commission’s powers.
Akhtar called on the Attorney-General who is empowered with prosecutorial decisions to stay apolitical so no one would question his decisions.
The TI-M president also called on judges to impose the maximum punishment on those convicted of corruption to send a strong message to others.
“The MACC need support cooperation and involvement of public, impeccably honest and respectable politicians regardless of their political differences to boost the commission in its fighting against corruption effectively in this country,” he said.
