The sentiment that Malaysian anti-corruption efforts mostly catch the ikan bilis while ignoring the jerung or sharks is a long-standing public perception, frequently discussed in local discourse.
To the public, MACC will always be seen as being selective in their attention.
Critics have often described MACC actions as "catch-and-release," where high-profile individuals are detained for headlines but later released without significant charges.
Some felt that despite arrests, the root causes of systemic corruption are not addressed, and the real perpetrators remain untouched.
And the public complained incessantly and mocked the efforts of the government on this despite PMX repeately assuring Malaysians that fighting corruption is the top most priority on his agenda.
Of late, it appears that the tone and intensity of the fight changed momentum into warp speed.
Especially after the conclusion of the charges against PM6 at the High Court.
Probably PMX does not want the case against PM6 to distract other active ongoing investigations from proceeding to the Courts.
Not to say it has a bearing on other cases but it does help and also free up the huge resources that were tied up and involved in the case against PM6.
The recent arrests and charging of the former Chief of the Armed Forces, his successor who was supposed to assume and take over his position and the Head of Military Intelligence and the Armed Forces’ Joint Forces Headquarters chief of staff was something that shocked the nation.
Even though the charges against them were of recent times, it would be gullible for the public to believe that the corrupted acts for which they were charged for are of recent times.
Corrupted behaviour doesn’t happen overnight.
This unethical behavior usually escalates over time through small, justified compromises.
And do you think MACC and PMX would have proceeded and arrest and charge them just because they have evidence?
Nope.
It can only happen with the knowledge and blessings of the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces i.e the YDP Agong.
And the country is blessed with the current YDP Agong in going after corrupt officials, no matter who they are and what rank they hold as a civilian or in government organisations.
Now that the jerung or sharks are ensnared and charged, it is a surprise to read on social media of certain groups calling for leniency for them considering the years of sacrifice and services they gave to the country.
Leniency for the corrupt?
Were these corrupt ever lenient when they were `participating’ in the corrupt acts which deprived the country of much needed funds for its development and provision of public amenities and facilities to the ordinary people?
Nope.
All they were thinking are the type of luxury watches and clothes and vehicles they would adorn themselves with.
The type of holidays they would be going.
None of them ever spare a thought to the suffering of the ordinary people when they are at the height of their corrupt acts.
And now certain NGOs and individuals are pleading for their leniency.
It doesn’t matter whether the source of the information regarding these acts were revealed by a "competing cartel" to remove competition.
A corrupt act is corrupt. Full stop.
If it is a competing cartel providing the information to remove competition, that competing cartel would also be living on borrowed time.
Most importantly, the jerung or sharks are arrested and charged as compared to other preceding Prime Ministers before PMX.
Expectations from the general public are now very high with high hopes that more jerung or sharks across the various enforcement agencies will be ensnared in the months ahead.
For those high up in government agencies, GLCs and ministries, either you stop your long time practice that helps in your life's subsistence immediately or be caught in the ongoing ensnarement that has the full backing of a majority of ordinary Malaysians.
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