Integrity, transparency and the fight against corruption have to be part of the culture. They have to be thought of as fundamental values.
– Angel Gurria, QECD Secretary-General
Firstly, let me express my pleasure and joy as a Sarawakian and a Kuchingite at the colourful and happy scene at the Kuching Waterfront during the launching of the National Unity Week by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last Sunday.
Although I’m not physically present in my home city to witness the launching, I have received many videos and photos of the happy and meaningful event in my inbox. I’m grateful to my friends in Kuching for forwarding them.
I’m particularly glad to see Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim happily meeting, exchanging greetings and conversing with Sarawak leaders in a more intimate fashion.
Such an event offers the prime minister the opportunity to get to know more Sarawak leaders and understand Sarawakians and their aspirations better.
The relationship between Sarawak leaders and the prime minister can only get better when there is better understanding, more warmth, sincerity and trust over time.
I am a Sarawakian who wants to see that GPS stands behind Anwar for one full term at least. It is my fervent hope that this unity government stays intact and manages the nation till the next general election in 2027.
Why do I so badly wish for the Anwar administration to go full steam ahead? Principally for one key reason – Anwar’s anti-corruption drive must succeed.
Somehow, I feel that Anwar is the only prime minister who seems to be serious about eradicating corruption. For now, he looks like the only real hope in this fight against the scourge which has brought our nation to its knees.
I’m also hopeful that under this Madani government, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) would be going after the sharks and not the ‘ikan bilis’ as we have often witnessed.
We must have observed that MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki has been acting like a real graft-buster of late. Previously most of the top brass in MACC have been known to be pathetic, subservient servants of those in power.
Now, it’s comforting to see some drastic changes in the MACC and that some real, serious graft-busting operations have been carried out. Many of those charged in court were political bigwigs.
Azam Baki’s tenure as the MACC boss has also been extended for another year. The prime minister has praised Azam’s work, saying that the MACC chief has performed well ever since he was given more space to carry out his duties.
I want to trust the prime minister’s judgement on this as it also makes sense since Azam has already started investigations into many cases of alleged corruption involving multi-billion/million ringgit sleazy deals.
Just last Sunday, the MACC chief has confirmed that his agency would summon a former senior minister (believed to be a ‘Tun’) and a former prominent businessperson with a ‘Tan Sri’ title for another round of questioning about the alleged misappropriation of over RM2.3 billion in public funds.
The MACC has seized a number of documents regarding the takeover of shares involving a public-listed company, which allegedly caused the decline of Malaysia’s economy in the 1990s.
According to the MACC chief, the case is being investigated under Section 23 of the MACC Act for abuse of power to get gratification and under the country’s anti-money laundering law.
Two days ago, Bernama reported that the investigation is an extension of the Pandora Papers – a leak of financial documents by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) regarding offshore service providers that set up and manage shell companies and trusts in tax havens around the globe.
I, for one, have been keeping a close tab on the MACC operations since the probe into the 1MDB fiasco after GE14 in 2018.
Former prime minister Datuk Seri Naib Razak was the first prominent personality to be charged for corruption, adjudged guilty and jailed.
Another former PM, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, has also been charged with graft and money laundering and is awaiting trial.
Meanwhile, our nonagenarian ex-PM, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, is embroiled in a suit against Anwar for alleging that he (Mahathir) had amassed great wealth while serving as PM for 22 long years.
Whatever the outcome might be of the personal suit, Dr Mahathir’s alleged immense wealth and that of his children are open secrets although no official investigations have ever been carried out.
I believe that Malaysians must be somewhat consoled that the MACC is now investigating the sharks who have escaped the agency’s dragnet for far too long.
It’s time to rein them all in. The people expect the Madani government to do so.
In turn, Malaysians must give their full support to the prime minister on his anti-graft crusade in order to foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and integrity in governance.
With that backing for the unity government, we also contribute to a more just, prosperous, and equitable society for all.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
