The very idea that the headman of the MACC be accorded a status equivalent to that of the Inspector-General of Police was so hilarious that I, a grown man, was driven to sobbing uncontrollably before I doubled up, laughing my head off. I have, in my lifetime, been through many strange and unusual situations, but I must confess to a sense of incredulity that members of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board headed by former Chief Justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad were prepared to risk their collective reputation by putting this recommendation forward. It is absurdity personified.
The other recommendations, including the establishment of a statutory commission on appointments, and the need to have interrogation rooms equipped with CCTV cameras, must rank as among the most facile suggestions ever made by a group of people who lay claim to expert knowledge and experience of a level considered sufficient to justify their being appointed to the advisory board.
In the event, by their earth-shattering recommendations, they have confirmed what I have known all along: they know nothing about fighting corruption or, for that matter, the chief commissioner, if he had to be “advised” on what equipment was needed to be put in place to make the interrogation process more open and transparent, then he has no business to be there in the first place. I make no apology for using the word interrogation in relation to the methods adopted by the MACC when dealing with witnesses. The word interview is yet to be part of the MACC’s corruption fighting lexicon.
The recommendation to equate the head of MACC with the Inspector- General of Police not only shows a pathetic lack of understanding on the part of the advisory board of the duties and responsibilities of the Inspector-General of Police and the officers under his command and control in the overall scheme of national security and public order priorities, but also insensitivity to the intelligence of the public. To believe that an untried jumped-up middle-rank public servant barely able to keep his head above water in the job is on par with the head of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is the height of fantasy. This is similar to proposing that the head of Rela be given the same status as the Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff.
The PDRM is an organisation with a 200-year tradition of public service. Admittedly there have been some hiccups along the way in its long history of protecting life and property, but it has been through several baptisms of fire, and not once has it been found wanting whenever the nation needed it desperately. The makeover from the ACA to the MACC has not resulted in any marked improvement in its performance. It is the same old wine in a brand-new Waterford decanter. The wine is still the same, not fit for the table.
My advice to the MACC chief commissioner, for what it is worth, is not to let his ambition exceed his abilities which have yet to be tested and proven. Until Malaysians are absolutely convinced that the organisation he has inherited by default, not his fault, naturally, can be relied upon to carry out its duties in the public interest, and thereby earn their respect and confidence, he will have absolutely no credibility or clout. A senior member of his staff has been to see me, of his own volition, for some advice. He is not happy with the ethical and moral dilemmas he has had to face under the present leadership, and it appears that unless staff morale is attended to sensibly and quickly, the chief commissioner’s tenure could be problematical.
So, as we have seen, public confidence, without which he might just as well close shop, is not a commodity that can be bought in a supermarket. He has to earn it the hard way; persuading the government to dress him up to look like a poor imitation of the Inspector-General of Police is not going to help him succeed in his job. People have yet to see the colour of his money, in a manner of speaking. He can say what he likes about doing a great job, but people want results. They are his judges, and on present showing he is seen to be long on self-publicity and rather short on productive effort. I know from inside information he has been busy hiring spin doctors to tart up his image and that of his organisation. Don’t throw good money after bad because public trust and confidence will not return no matter how much money is spent on cosmetic surgery.
MACC’s much touted independence is under close public scrutiny. I am told, again on the internal grapevine, that he insists that every MACC function must have a minister present. MACC should not have too much to do with ministers as this could cause embarrassment should it have to arrest them for corruption. But I suppose MACC’s independence stops short of calling corrupt ministers to account, and so everyone is a winner except the nation.
I see that the MACC director of investigation is probing the labyrinth of commercial networks and dealings in search of “elements of corruption”, as he puts it, in the Sime Darby affair. The director of investigation is a fine man, extremely good at preparing slides for Powerpoint presentations but he would not know where to begin. It is a job for trained forensic accountants from the big audit firms with international connections. I know what the outcome will be — there is no evidence of corruption. Remember the Perwaja episode?
More Inspectors-General waiting to be appointed
Inspector-General of Elections Commission
Inspector-General of malaysian judiciary
Inspector-General of mca
Inspector-General of gerakan
Inspector-General of mic
Smoking is the main cause of cancer. This cancer syndrome sometimes can be cure and most of the time not. Is not the syndrome should be after, instead we should close down the factory who is the cause.
Factory = Goverment.
Cancer = Corruption.
A good way to check corruption is to haul up toon bak kut teh and charge him, and send him to jail for the rest of his life, with a warning to NTR that he and his wife will be executed by firing squad hired from Mongolia.
Hiring a firing squad from Mongolia is way too expensive. I volunteer to do it F.O.C.
NR has sold off M’sian land in Sg n got extra $$$$ 2 bribe
Of cos, create new fanciful positions with higher salaries in agencies which serve as UmnoB/BN lapdogs 2 attack rakyat n preserve UmnoB/BN
With all due respect to Tunku Abdul Aziz, who knows and ought to know about tackling corruption better than most people, I am on the side of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board on this one in “recommending headman of the MACC be accorded a status equivalent to that of the Inspector-General of Police”.
Everyone knows that a 200 year old organisation like PDRM cannot have two heads ie IGP and MACC Commissioner of equivalent rank, and therefore to recommend so is to say that MACC as anti corruption agency should be separate and independent agency from PDRM.
To separate is always a good thing because its check and balance : MACC could probe police corruption effectively if it were not a division under PDRM under orders of IGP, with all subject to normal esprit de corps (ie. common spirit of comradeship, enthusiasm, and devotion to a cause among the members of a group so that they will always protect their own kind). Conversely if any MACC officer were corrupt, the Police (CID) of PDRM can investigate MACC in the reverse for surely we cannot expect MACC to investigate its own by reason of the same esprit de corps!
Lets take the experience of two Asian societies most successful in combatting corruption – Singapore & Hong Kong. In Singapore’s case, in the 15 year period from 1937 to 1952 the Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) was under the police. In Oct 1951 a consignment of 1800 pounds of opium worth S$420,000 were stolen by a gang of robbers countingh amongst whom were three police detectives. How to expect police to investigate 3 of their own? Colonial office in 1952 replaced ACB by Corrupt Practices Invetigation Bureau (CPIB) and took that agency out from the Police! In Hong Kong’s case, in the 26 year period from 1948 to 1974 the Hong Kong ACB was also under Royal Hong Kong Police Force (RHKPF) with both investigating rampant corruption until the one investigated/suspected was none other than Chief Superintendent of Police, Peter F Godber. Whilst in police custody the suspect was allowed to escape to UK on 8th June 1973. In face of public uproar HK’s governor accepted Commission of Enquiry’s recommendation to create the present Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) separate from RHKPF. [Source/Ref- Jon S.T Quah (Professor of Political science NUS) in his article/paper published by ADB Quarterly by title “Best practices for Curbing Corruption in Asia”]
The comparatively impeccable record of S’pore’s CPIB and HK’s ICAC support our Anti-Corruption Advisory Board’s recommendation that “headman of the MACC be accorded a status equivalent to that of the Inspector-General of Police” if it meant separating MACC from under the wings of PDRM.
Tunku Abdul Aziz may think that present MACC Commissioner has an infammation of ambition exceeding capabilities or its director of investigation for Sime’s fiasco good at power point presentations. This is not the point. If present people not up to mark change them. Its a separate issue from separating MACC from PDRM at institutional level which by itself and on a stand alone basis, from the angle of check and balance, its a good suggestion and not “absurdity personified” to be laughed at.
Tons and tons of messages exposing inexperienced clowns as head of MACC..yet on and on….Najib change one after another worst that the last one.
No improvement. Why?
No need experiences at all. Just don’t break the rules set up by Mahathir. They are nobody…just ceremonial show dogs to perform everything to protect Najib and UMNO B.
Better wait till all the cows come home than to expect crooked guys… going straight.
///To believe that an untried jumped-up middle-rank public servant barely able to keep his head above water in the job is on par with the head of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) is the height of fantasy. This is similar to proposing that the head of Rela be given the same status as the Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff../// – Tunku Abdul Aziz
I think the Tunku here, in focusing on the ambition of “an untried jumped-up middle-rank public servant (from MACC) barely able to keep his head above water in the job” fantasizing to be “on par with the head of the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM)” has missed the main point of the recommendation by Anti-Corruption Advisory Board headed by former Chief Justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad – which is (indirectly) to institutionally separate MACC from PDRM.
The separation will not by itself guarantee overnight independence. This is because MACC’s investigation cannot lead to prosecution unless Public Prosecutor in AG’s Department says its Ok to prosecute. (This is provided by MACC Act). And AG is also a cabinet minister and government main counsel and lawyer besides the other role of being prosecutor for the public. It also cannot be independent unless MACC appointment is not by the PM but by an independent body with adequate representation from Civil Society!
But still to separate MACC from PDRM represents by itself on a stand alone basis one important milestone to strengthen check and balance where MACC could play the role of Internal Affairs as in the United States to probe Police corruption.
Tunku Abdul Aziz also said “The PDRM is an organisation with a 200-year tradition of public service. Admittedly there have been some hiccups along the way in its long history of protecting life and property, but it has been through several baptisms of fire, and not once has it been found wanting whenever the nation needed it desperately”.
With all due respect Sir, not many would concur with your statement today after the Kugan’s death, Aminulrasyid shooting etc and other instances which made our Royal Commission recommend the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission.
And even if I were wrong about the recommendation by Anti-Corruption Advisory Board headed by former Chief Justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad – that its recommendation of the headman of the MACC be accorded a status equivalent to that of the Inspector-General of Police were intended to INSTITUTIONALLY separate MACC from PDRM – I would still be correct to say such a recommendation, if implemented, would represent a separation of MACC ORGANISATIONALLY & ACCOUNTABILITY wise from PDRM and its chief IGP and that by itself in terms of check and balance especially on investigations of police corruption, a sound and good proposal for the same reasons stated in my preceding two postings. institutionally
I know of a guy who happened to work in Bangladesh for a while. he showed a call-card from the owner of the house which he had rented. It read- Former Inpector-General of Police. So I asked him, how come he could get a house from a former IGP of that country? Don’t get carried away, practically all ex-senior police officers printed their cards in this manner! In some of our neighbouring countries, you have hundreds of ex-generals. Soon we will in that boat. And indeed, with the extended pension scheme, soon Idris Jala’s prediction will come true!
Whether MACC chief is Johnny come lately with an inflammation of ambition but without experience to be same status as IGP is a “small red herring issue” compared to and not to be distracted from the larger important issue of the necessity of maintaining the principle of Separation of Power between Police Chief and Anti Corruption chief to ensure the independence of investigation by one of the other for corruption, which under present system of the MACC chief being below the rank of IGP within PDRM cannot facilitate.
I don’t know; I don’t quite understand what the Tunku is saying. Is he talking about the rank of a post or the stature of a person? The head of MACC may not enjoy the rank of IGP, but obviously he should have the stature of an IGP (read carefully, not this IGP) in the sense that he has the capability, credential and integrity to carry out the function of MACC impartially and effectively. I thought this the whole purpose of setting up the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission.
In any case, the issue is not just that the two institutions, (i.e. the Police and the MACC) must be separate and independent (that would be obvious). What is the point of having two separate entities when both are under the thumb of the Executive, the political masters? We can set up whatever institutions we want, call them whatever names, institute whatever independent measures, but if political subversion is omnipresent, these institutions are as good as the thick carpet that laid in these institutions. Go to Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, look into the building, read the Federal Constitution that provides for the separation of power and the independence of the Judiciary and match all these against the practical reality of administration of justice in this country today and you shall understand what I mean. Has it ever occurred to you that Singapore’s anti corruption outfit until today is still just a Bureau and yet it has been effective in combating corruption? One side issue: our former MACC chief was obsessed with uniform. He loved to go around with his colourful uniform. Seriously why MACC needs uniforms? Can someone check whether Singapore’s CPIB has uniform?
Jeffrey, i did not copy from you, ok. I was writing this above piece before reading your latest post #11.
In olden days..the E branch of the police force was most powerful.
They go about catching crooks regardless the ranks and file of anyone..regardless any race or religion.
They wore plain clothes and work like US CIA guys.
Everyone was afraid to be caught for corruptions….until Mahathir changed the law and made police powerless..to make UMNO B have final say.
In olden days..the E branch of the police force was most powerful…no politics involved.
I wonder it is the same today.
Inspector-General of MACC: Have we gone mad?
Think this is madness? Wait till U hear dat MPM proposed dat 67% of d national wealth must b given 2 Malays/Bumi n 33% 2 nonMalays/Bumi
Wow, easy $$$$ 4 Malays/Bumi
Wait lah till 2019 when d nation is bankrupt, will Malays/Bumi accept 67% of ‘I owe U’ slip
– tearing a chapter out of a book and putting an impressive cover on it does not alter its contents;
– fixing a ferrari badge on a proton does not enable it to race in F1;
– a rotten apple is still a rotten apple even if it is called a golden apple.
What to expect from an organisation that is “penny wise, intentionally pound foolish” in investigations. Saddening isn’t it. Luckily Penang is under PR – only need CAT.
The headman of MACC should ask Najib to either give MACC the independence to operate or close shop.
Stop all dirty deals which only prosecute ikan bilis but let go the big fishes. This is the only way to restore public confidence in the institution.
“The wine is still the same, not fit for the table.”
The same goes with the advisory panel and it doesn’t matter whether MACC got an IG, they are still being rule by the crooks.
Given that Najib is already in trouble with the right-wing of his party, there is no way he can move institutional reform of any enforcement agencies. Its well know that the enforcement agencies and the right-wing groups are highly intertwined. Whatever Najib’s original plan was, it was never going to work and will never work.
there is no surprise. There are some already appointed themselves teacher and god. Another position to be umno lapdog is a small price to pay. Another position on the way…
Inspector general of selling Malaysia. We have jet engines, sands, oil parcels, timber, ready to plunder for the highest bidder and commission. Bid without FEAR!!
Status without work is dead. It is a mere puppet. Therefore it is not a waras action unless the whole thing has conditions attach to it.