Why is MACC so chummy with Umno?
In sending a congratulatory message to the ruling party, the anti-graft body undermined its own integrity.
From Ravinder Singh
In congratulating Umno on its 71st anniversary, the MACC did something that was unwarranted and inappropriate.
As a government body funded by the public, its job includes ensuring that Umno leaders and members are not involved in corrupt practices. Sending Umno a congratulatory message thus undermines that function.
What’s worse, the message indicates that it relies on the ruling party to fight corruption, for these were the words it used:
“Umno leaders should give emphasis on fighting corruption and abuse of power so that they can be role models to the next generation who will take over the country. They will play a significant role in making progress in an ethical society that is free of corruption and abuse of power.”
A true graft buster would guard against making such sycophantic statements. It would instead demand integrity from politicians and show that it means business by sending them to prison if they are found to be corrupt.
The powers of the MACC chief surely include arresting all corrupt persons without fear or favour. When he shows himself to be so chummy with Umno, will he throw the book at Umno leaders who are not clean?
But it appears that we now have to ask how high his powers reach. Does he have a political master to answer to?
It’s true that the MACC has lately been showing great efficiency, arresting people almost every week. However, it’s not the number of arrests that will impress the public, but the number of successful prosecutions. Without these, the public perception will be that these arrests are a pre-election show to boost the image of the BN government.
Ravinder Singh is an FMT reader
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