After Comedy Of Errors Macc Panel Members Must Resign

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From Walter Sandosam
Integrity is a virtue which has taken a leave of absence from the Malaysian scene, be it in public service or the corporate sector.
The conflicting statements being issued and the comedy of errors at press conferences by the purportedly independent oversight panels to shed light on the ongoings at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) have infuriated the public. In the process, the trust element on the institutional infrastructure has taken a severe whipping.
In view of the damage inflicted on the MACC, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board (ACAB) chair and the ACAB members (in light of the press conference of Jan 11) should summarily, as persons of integrity, submit their letters of resignation to the Palace, as opposed to the incongruous and ridiculous view that “we’re leaving it to the King and government to decide”.
When both the ACAB chair and ACAB members taken collectively have not performed up to expectations and are subject to public ridicule, an honourable exit is the only way forward. The view expressed that the authorities are “free to investigate” is incongruous as it reflects the board’s ineptitude.
It must be noted that the ACAB comprises a retired senior police officer, a prominent journalist, an ex-MACC officer who was a fraud investigator, an academic and two prominent corporate figures. It escapes the imagination as to how this fiasco could have been allowed to occur.
This ugly episode has much knock-on effects as persons chosen on the basis of independence and impartiality have been exposed to be grossly inefficient and lacking in basic courtesies that facilitate basic human interaction.
There has been much flak directed at the current MACC chief commissioner. This is at the expense of investigating the absolutely incomprehensible behaviour of those on the oversight bodies, which form the check and balance mechanism to ensure independence, transparency and accountability.
The extreme action taken in serving a legal suit against a whistleblower at the onset and having political parties from both sides of the divide coming to the rescue reflects the foolhardiness exhibited. It undermines the process of whistleblowing, which is crucial in light of the recent amendments to Section 17A of the MACC Act, which one would expect the MACC to hold dear.
The joint statement issued by the MACC chief commissioner’s immediate next lower level in support of their superior even before investigations have commenced smacks of misplaced loyalty.
More importantly, there appears to be sidestepping and shadow play by the oversight bodies, be it ACAB or the Consultation and Corruption Prevention Panel (CCPP), in responding to legitimate queries.
Steady decline in the quality of public service
The spectre of political undertones surfaced as being fire starters on this issue with no substantive proof of such interference.
A respected academic had brought up an issue and he resigned from an oversight panel due to lethargy in speedily addressing the concern. It is pitiful and embarrassing to hear from the panel chair that the communication lacked specificity, only to be rebutted that the attachments in relation to the concern were included.
This coming from a retired senior civil servant is most unpalatable. One can quite well wonder that if this issue can be sidestepped feigning ignorance on a communication from a respected academic, how many such issues which were brought up by other junior members of the civil service or the public could have been subject to such a charade. Is this the rot in public service intimated by some?
Many quarters have commented on the steady decline and rot in the quality of public service and senior level civil servants. While it may not be pervasive, it is still a matter of concern.
The advent of GLCs and GLICs have contributed to the “see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil” syndrome. This pampering to the wiles of political masters and pressure groups is opined to be a stance to possibly earn the due reward of lucrative directorship positions post-retirement.
The complete dismantling of the current membership of the board and its panels is the only way forward to restore faith in the system and the check and balance mechanisms in place.
Honourable men and ladies normally resign and not wait to be fired! - FMT
Walter Sandosam was an MACC oversight panel member from 2009-2016.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

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