An Anti Graft Plan That Finally Works

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It is a plan that even holds Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s successor to account in ensuring continuity in the implementation of the NACP. (The Star) – NACP to involve all stakeholders from the very top to even schoolchildren
THE National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) 2019-2023 is expected to be launched by the Prime Minister at the end of the month.
While this is not meant to be a political platform as how the Government Trans­formation Plan (GTP) was politically hijacked, it is geared towards ensuring Pakatan Harapan fulfils one of the key items in its general election manifesto.
While details of the plan are embargoed till the launch day, an editors’ closed-door briefing last week at the Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre saw the centre’s director-general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed (pic) explaining why this plan will work as it addresses every aspect of corruption, including anticipating new corrupt acts and opportunities for corruption.
I’ll admit that I was one of those who was sceptical with this new effort.
After all, we already had the 14-year National Integrity Plan (NIP) which was launched in 2004 and the creation of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) – touted to be even better than Hong Kong’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), whom by the way helped us to draft the MACC Bill.
 
What happened in the last decade though does not seem to reflect these efforts at combating corruption.
In fact, Malaysia kept getting poorly rated in global corruption perception surveys.
We also popularised the term “kleptocracy” following the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, which played a large part in bringing down the previous government.
The MACC was even purged of its top leadership and the Attorney General was removed.
These just go to show that laws and initiatives are only as good as the people who are entrusted to implement and protect them.
So why is the NACP any different?
Well, for starters, it involves all stakeholders from the very top to even schoolchildren, as it also puts a heavy emphasis on prevention and creating a corrupt-free society through academic syllabuses.
This is only logically possible with a new generation.
The Council of Rulers, Parliament, the judiciary, the executive, politicians, civil servants, the police, the army, corporate Malaysia, foreign investors, education and religious bodies are just some of a long list of bodies and individuals who will not only be impacted by the success of the plan but some of them will be answerable for its failure.
The NACP is not merely a plan to eradicate corruption, but supplementary efforts include mending our bruised democratic and government system to ensure that no one person is vested with too much power and more bite is given to institutions which are meant to protect democracy and the welfare of the people.
The private sector should embrace the new initiatives the plan will introduce. Bona fide companies and investors will have no issue with a special focus on beneficial ownership, for instance.
As mentioned earlier, details are under wraps until the Jan 29 launch day at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre – but the plan is so comprehensive in its execution and timeline that it would be obvious who is responsible for throwing a spanner in the works and who is responsible for its failure.
This is a plan which success is largely dependent on political will.
The onus is largely on the shoulders of the policy makers and politicians who promised us the world while courting electorates during the 14th General Election campaign period.
Unlike the GTP, this plan is not about an individual.
It is a plan that even holds Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s successor to account in ensuring continuity in the implementation of the NACP.
The plan is clearly spelt out with set timelines and who is responsible for its implementation which is supposed to culminate in a status report in time for the next general election.
By then, the rakyat will be able to gauge the sincerity of this current government in eradicating corruption and if “making Malaysia known for its integrity, not its corruption” is just another fancy tagline or something that illustrates we are at least halfway there in mending our broken reputation as a nation that tolerates corruption.
 

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