Pak Lah non-committal on more independence for ACA

Posted on April 19, 2008
Filed Under ACA |

For too long, loud cries have reveberated throughout the country for reforms in the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA), particularly for it to be an independent body and not just an arm of the government.

When he became prime minister five years ago, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi vowed to stem the tide of corruption in the country. But it is now clear he has failed the nation and people on that score, the March 8 polls results being the most clear indicator.

Today, Abdullah was a let-down again. Questioned on the issue by the media after an early morning function in Kuala Lumpur, he remained non-committal on the agenda for change in the ACA as demanded by the people.

All he said was that he would decide on a proposal by the ACA for more independence.

“I have received the proposal and I would decide on it as soon as possible,” the prime minister told a press conference after officiating the Barisan Nasional MPs retreat.

The New Straits Times today reported that ACA director-general Ahmad Said Hamdan and his deputy Abu Kassim Mohamad had submitted the proposal to Abdullah two days ago.

Full Malaysiakini story here.

The ACA, the way it is presently structured, is a complete joke. It is a toothless agency good for catching corrupt little fish. When was the last time a well-known person was investigated by ACA for corruption? When was the last time you heard anything coming out of an investigation of government departments for misuse of funds and property? The results of the ACA probe on the Penang land improprieties come to mind.

Since 2002 when Malaysia was placed 33rd in the Corruption Perception Index, Malaysia has continued to drop to 43rd place in 2007. Only in 2006 was Malaysia ever perceived more corrupt, at 44th place compared to 2007’s position. How did Malaysia end up in that spot of the 180 countries surveyed?

Malaysia has an Anti-Corruption Agency but that agency is as good as non-existent. It does not have the independence to investigate and carry out its duties without the high and mighty interfering.

If the ACA truly had the independence to investigate and bring charges especially on corrupt politicians, I would not be at all surprised to see more than half of those in the federal cabinet and the state governments found guilty of corruption.

People are not blind to the fact that politicians seem to amass their wealth, so soon after becoming an elected assemblyman or parliamentarian. People are not blind to the fact that family members of the well-connected seem to experience windfall projects, contracts and profits year after year.

Unless the ACA is given more power and independence, Malaysia will continue to slide on the Corruption Perception Index scale. That would be a shame and a disgrace for the country.

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