MACC must be as strong as KPK Indonesia in fighting corruption
HURIN EIN
SHAH ALAM – To strive for transparency against corruption, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be as empowered as the Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to be able to have the freedom of carrying out its duty without fear or favour.
In an exclusive Wacana interview on Corruption and Hypocrisy of Malaysian Politics, veteran journalist Tan Sri Johan Jaafar said with MACC’s empowerment, issues like selective persecution could be contained.
“We have no choice. MACC must be as strong as KPK Indonesia,” he said.
Recalling his six-year experience as the chairman of MACC’s Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel, Johan said he encountered “very scary” situations.
One of them, he said was during the peak of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International Sdn Bhd case.
He said at that time, two MACC investigation officers were dismissed while the investigation was ongoing.
“The most difficult issue to deal with (in MACC) was the political pressure and these people were political leaders with power. This power is abused when given to them.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg,” he said.
He said although MACC wanted to ensure proper investigation was carried out, these kinds of obstacles made it hard, so it was important to support the efforts of the anti-graft agency.
“I’m sure all Malaysians know the harms corruption bring, but we don’t want those in the anti-corruption agency to be involved in corruption themselves,” he said.
Johan also applauded Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah's firm stand in addressing corruption in the country during the launch of a book entitled “Corruption and Hypocrisy in Malay Muslim Politics” written by academician M Kamal Hassan at Karangkraf Complex, here, today.
“His Majesty has always been consistent against corruption and I believe it's not common for a monarch to speak frankly about it,” he said.
He added that it was very important to be vocal about the problems plaguing the nation today especially on the hypocrisy of the political leadership.
“With combination forces from the royals, the institute of higher education and Rasuah Busters, I hope this can be a dominant new force for us to express our views and have a direct conversation on critical issues like this,” he said.
