The past month has continued to provide mounting evidence of the day-and-night difference in anti-corruption efforts between Malaysia and Indonesia, which should raise the red flag that it is a matter of time before Malaysia will be regarded internationally as lagging behind Indonesia in fighting corruption.
This is best illustrated by the contrasting headlines on anti-corruption in the two countries in the past month.
For instance, one of the most electrifying news on the anti-corruption front in Malaysia was the headline last month: “8 officers face 28 fresh charges in Customs bribery case” but this paled into insignificance when compared with the following headline on the fight against corruption in Indonesia a week earlier: “Ex-leader of Indonesia’s ruling party gets 8 years in jail for corruption, money laundering”
But what gives the feeling of the night-and-day difference in anti-corruption efforts between the two countries are the headlines in Indonesian newspapers on Wednesday like “Jokowi to replace eight prospective ministerial candidates following KPK`s recommendation”, following the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission)’s recommendation that the eight prospective Cabinet Ministers are “high risk” of being named graft suspects, and those yesterday like “Indonesia president submits new cabinet list” to KPK and “Eight new ministerial candidates still under KPK consideration: Jokowi”.
The gloom felt by Malaysians at the puny anti-corruption efforts are not relieved when they are inundated with disastrous, ambivalent or downright inane news headlines like “Malaysia one of the most corrupt nations, survey shows” (Sept. 27), “No plan to boost law to probe into ‘high-living’ civil servants” (Oct.8) and “Top cop looks to ordinary Malaysians to keep police in check” (Oct. 23).
Can the Prime Minister or even the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) explain why Malaysia is losing out so badly to Indonesia in anti-corruption efforts and results, with not a single “big fish” landed in Malaysia so far whether under the present Prime Minister or the two previous Prime Ministers, covering 33 years since 1981 when the catching, prosecution and jailing of “big fishes” have become quite commonplace in Indonesia?
This deplorable trend in the anti-corruption efforts of Malaysia and Indonesia is well documented by the annual Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) since 1995.
In the first TI CPI in 1995, Malaysia was ranked No. 23 out of 41 countries with a middling CPI score of 5.28.
Nineteen years later, after numerous anti-corruption campaigns, two major anti-corruption legislation, the “elevation” of the former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) into Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the National Integrity Plan, the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme with massive infusion of public funds and increase of staffing, Malaysia has now fallen in the TI CPI 2013 to No. 53 out of 177 countries, with CPI score of 50/100 – a ranking lower than ever recorded under the two previous Prime Ministers, Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah.
In comparison, Indonesia was ranked at the very bottom of No. 41 in 1995 with CPI score of 1.94. Now Indonesia is ranked No. 114 with a progressive rise CPI score to 32/100 in 2013.
At the annual average rate of Indonesia’s improvement on TI CPI ranking and score in the past five years, with Malaysia struggling to remain in the middling CPI score, Malaysia will be left behind by Indonesia in less than a decade, even well before 2020.
Is there a strategy by Najib and MACC to avert this disaster?
(Media Statement in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, October 25, 2014)
Yes.
Night and day. And day and night. Uncle Lim works on tirelessly – for the nation and the people.
I dedicate this piano piece by frederic chiu to uncle lim: http://www.nytimes.com/video/arts/music/100000003184332/in-performance-frederic-chiu.html?playlistId=1194811622182
HOW 2 practise anti-corruption in dis 1DERful land
Our sistem (dis 1DERful OSA) truly FAVORS n GUARANTEES corruption
Just look @ d S’gor Water Deal, cloaked in total secrecy
Y details cannot SEE d light of day 1?
Dare d new S’gor MB expose d details of d Water Deal?
Was it a golden sweetheart deal dat led 2 more Ferrari n Lambo on our roads?
When will the opposition have the courage to make the case that without major BN leaders caught and punished and it must include Mahathir and Daim for it to be considered truly enough, that fight against corruption will be truly convincing.
The fact of the matter is catching some low ranking or mid-level officers even directors in civil service WILL NEVER change the tide, at best surpress it until it rears it ugly head again in the future.
ANYTHING SHORT OF INCLUDING MAHATHIR & DAIM will never convince the public political culture has changed. Should they pass away before they are punished, even if the inheritors of their ill-gotten gains later punished, will have lingering doubt of the thorough change in political culture in this country..
Its a matter of national service, a matter of change in national culture imperative for the future of our children..
We are not ready yet, so much ‘mess’ to clean up and it needs a lot of time before the lap dog is ready to be a real watch dog to protect and safeguard the taxpayers and public interest…..may be another 20 years?
Now we have a transparency minister dont we?
And despite having created that position our corruption problem does not seem to have improved.
Only two things I can say. Either (1) that transparency minister is not doing his job; or (2) the corrupt umno gobermen is just incorrigible – in short we are doomed.
Maybe our authorities can borrow some strategies or ideas even from the CHINA’S ” FLIES TO TIGERS ” anti-corruption campaign.If international media news accounts are accurate, a staggering amount of more than 20 plus thousand officials,from small flies to powerful Tigers have been arrested ,demoted,removed and prosecuted and punished in the space of 2 years. Recently 2 of the most powerful and corrupt “untouchables” ,thought to be invincible ,in that country ,have been knocked off their pedestal, , the BO Xilai , Zhou YangKang, who allegedly skimmed billions from the country,and crimes against humanity.
Very high profile and impressing and giving confidence to the international business and diplomatic community on their anti corruption resolve .Noone too high or influential to touch,not even their ex president Jiang .Another Tiger they are hunting now.
IF only Malaysia’s ruling goverment has the same guts and determination to go after not only the small corrupt “flies” but the very powerful elite “tigers” as well.
Would a thief call the police to arrest him?
The police? God help us. You make a police report you have to pay. You collect the police report, you also have to pay if you are from the motor workshop. What is your initial reaction when you see traffic police setting up road blocks and stopping cars? Your guess is as good as mine.
Jokowi pm-ed AhCheatKor: Apalah lu, Y so kia si 1, Y so takut AI goes 2 UM as PMUM’s invited speaker 2 speak on “40 years: from University of Malaya to prison”?
Let democracy flowers mah, talk talk only what, lagi AI is your MP n opposition leader n UM alumnus what
No need 2 command UM administration 2 declare d visit n talk illegal 1
No need 2 create such an unnecessary konfrontasi
Lu no know what era now meh? Internet n digital lah
Y lu want 2 shame yourself by commanding “UM’s vice-chancellor of student affairs 2 say that UM would never allow or support such a programme as it was against the university rules and had tarnished its reputation” 1?
Alamak, Y, Y, Y?
Relak lah, bro, lu better come n learn fr me lah n also bring your stumpy half 2 jam heavy metal, dangdut, n some Bugis stuff lor
Peace, bro, let democracy flowers mah
Jokowi pm-ed AhCheatKor: LOL, your UM, lu want it 2 b an independent university or a gomen controlled school huh? Heard UM also referred 2 as Pantai Valley High. Correct meh? Macam ini, how 2 rank high high in QS n THE World University Rankings 1?
LOL, lu want 2 ban your opposition leader fr speaking at your #1 public university, OMG
Lu must remember, his PR received 52% votes, more than what your UmnoB/BN received in GE13, LOL
Don’t play play with young uni students 1, just look at HK, LOL, Y dig your own BIG FAT hole, man, LOL
Najib is not someone that I would consider to have the makings of a statesman, at least according to this criteria. As the Prime Minister who represents all of Malaysians, to say something is absolutely right or absolutely wrong, especially when dealing with issues of morality, seems at best naive and at worst tyrannical. At best he is a politician, but he seems to be missing the key component – the ability to build consensus about any single topic. And, because of that our government will remain a morass of failed policies. He will not win the absolutes and thus will not have the power to bring about the changes needed. Just my two cents here.
Corruption here n there
Incompetence here n there
Racism here n there
Rule of Law, NO here n there
………………………. here n there
& UmnoB blamed Chinese 4 not grateful 2 UmnoB gomen n not supporting UmnoB
What illogical logic is dis?
Only Chinese (actually a small % of total voters) meh? What abt Malays (d majority voters)?
Y UmnoB NO understand Y >50% M’sian voters rejected UmnoB huh?
Do a public survey and let the Rakyat give their feedback on our MACC. It will not be a surprise.
Strange things happen in dis 1DERful land
Nay, actually NOT right things happen in dis 1DERful land
Rakyat pride ourselves as d BOSS electing MPs n ADUNs 2 SERVE us
Rakyat expect civil servants 2 b our servants serving d BOSS
But really really TRUE 1 meh?
With OSA, rakyat d BOSS hv NO idea what d servants r doing with d $$$
Like d S’gor Water Deal – So hush hush 1, rakyat d BOSS NO know d details, so ridiculous 1
So, day n nite, where got anti-corruption efforts lar
WHO is larfing all d way 2 d bank?
Something veri WRONG here, rakyat really BOSS kah?
D best ANTI-corruption effort
Those found guilty of corruption, esp gross abuse of their elected or appointed positions 4 self-enrichment, face d bullet, as done in some other nations