While expectations were high that the nation's anti-graft body would get a long overdue “spring cleaning”, can critics be blamed for bemoaning that it could well end up with nothing more than “window dressing”?
PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar has described the unveiling of Abdul Halim Aman (an honorable retired High Court judge) as the new Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti‑Corruption Commission (MACC) – to replace the outgoing Azam Baki – as both a test and an opportunity for the country’s institutions.
Stressing that the appointment must be viewed as an opportunity to strengthen integrity and accountability, Nurul added: “Integrity is not a title. It goes beyond ceremonies and press statements. Integrity is built in the decisions made behind closed doors, in the cases pursued without fear, in the calls that are not returned because justice cannot be traded.”
Interestingly, she also mentioned that reform requires structural change, including a review of the MACC Act, stronger institutional safeguards and genuine accountability to Parliament.
But isn't talk cheap…?
In reality, to many, wouldn't the recent appointment be more of a test of the Madani government’s sincere desire to revamp the country's embattled graftbusting body?
True enough, despite the announcement, that same Saturday afternoon (April 25) hundreds of protesters had proceeded to gather in the capital city centre for another “Arrest Azam Baki” rally. There was to be no let-up!
In fact, during the rally, demands for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on all the allegations relating to the agency, and for its outgoing chief to be investigated, continued to reverberate. Briefly, the three demands were:
• RCI to be set up to probe the corporate mafia and other allegations.
• Azam’s arrest and a total “reformation” of MACC.
• Freedom of speech for those who criticise acts of corruption.
But can the new chief guarantee major structural changes in MACC under his two-year watch?
Meanwhile, predictably, DAP responded to the announcement by asserting that the new chief's immediate priority must be to restore public confidence in the body. According to its national party chairman Gobind Singh Deo, it was especially so in addressing allegations of the “corporate mafia” activities plaguing the agency as well as resolving the shareholding controversy involving Azam.
However, the hard question is: can it's new head be expected to “push” the prime minister to set up the much sought after RCI to investigate his own predecessor? Wouldn't PMX also be hoping that with Azam Baki no longer in the fray, DAP would withdraw its earlier “threat” to pull out from the cabinet?
Genuine hope – or another false dawn?
Perhaps, maverick ex-law minister Zaid Ibrahim might have summed it up best when he pointed out that since PMX seemed to have given the public scant respect in the way the Chief Commissioner was chosen – especially when high expectations of a more rigorous selection process were totally ignored – how can anyone claim that the agency is ready for real reforms?
Moreover, can the head of a nation's anti-graft body be expected to act impartially – when he or she remains a “political appointee”?
Truth be told, despite all the fanfare over Azam’s contract being not extended, won't the new MACC chief still be reporting to the prime minister – instead of to Parliament? Likewise as what Zaid had highlighted, shouldn't there be a more rigorous selection process? Shouldn't it also be subject to some form of vetting by a bipartisan parliamentary committee for the sake of transparency and to render it truly independent?
Lastly, no doubt, critics will be quick to cite that the only reason Azam will no longer be helming MACC is simply because he has reached the end of his contract extension. In that context, if all else remains status quo, would it make any real difference to those who have been fighting so hard for integrity to be restored to the very soul of a hallowed national institution – one which effectively serves as the guardian of the country's moral conscience?
Main information source: Malay Mail, The Straits Times and Zaid Ibrahim X.
JK Joseph (jtkingsworld@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.