Anwar Insults Dedicated Honest Anti Graft Crusaders

---

 


“Figures with titles like Tan Sri, Tun, and Datuk Seri… In my view, we need to give some room to those entrusted to take action. I have no reason to doubt the courage of the MACC chief commissioner (Azam Baki) to act firmly, because I’ve never seen such boldness from his predecessors.” - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
In praising and describing MACC chief Azam Baki as “none as bold”, Anwar Ibrahim has insulted the many good men and women who headed the MACC.
These individuals set the highest standards in honesty, integrity, and dedication.
Among them are people who risked their livelihood, reputation, and their lives to continue their tirade against the crooked and the corrupted.
If not for Abu Kassim Mohammed, Shukri Abdull, and Mustafar Ali, who were steadfast in investigating former premier Najib Abdul Razak about the billions of ringgit that disappeared from 1MDB, Anwar would not be the prime minister.
All three were involved in the investigations into the various nefarious activities related to Najib but unceremoniously removed and sent to “Siberia” together with former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail on July 27, 2015, which has been described as the “night of the long knives”.
Subsequently, Gani’s successor, Apandi Ali, exonerated Najib from wrongdoing, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers refused requests from authorities in other countries that were also investigating Najib under the “mutual assistance” scheme.
Apple polishers galore
The US Department of Justice’s findings came like a bolt from the blue. Details of the transactions involving the stolen money came to light.
While the BN-controlled media carried out their censorship, three editors from the mainstream media interviewed Najib on television, who absolved himself.
The people watched helplessly as details emerged in The Edge and foreign publications, including the Wall Street Journal. Government leaders decried these reports in abundance.
The then transport minister Liow Tiong Lai said: “The 1MDB issue has been overpoliticised by irresponsible parties in their efforts to overthrow a democratically elected government.
“And now, these irresponsible parties have gone to the extent of being willing to work with foreign forces to achieve their agenda, which is unfortunate,” he said in a statement.
Former transport minister Liow Tiong LaiUmno leaders like Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Salleh Said Keruak stood in line.
Even the current deputy prime minister, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, joined the fray, declaring that he had met the chief investment officer and wealth trustee of the Arab family said to be behind the alleged RM2.6 billion donation transferred into Najib’s bank accounts.
“They want Umno and BN to continue ruling the country,” to which the former trade minister Rafidah Aziz quipped: “It must have been in his dreams. Zahid must have seen the apparition of an Arab. Nobody has been able to pinpoint which Arab donated the money.”
Umno Youth vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun lodged a police report against Abu Kassim, Gani, and former Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz for their role in a conspiracy to topple Najib.
Courage under fire
Despite the adversity from the then government and the BN political machinery, Abu Kassim, Shukri, and Mustafar prodded along. It would undoubtedly be an affront to dismiss them all and claim otherwise.
The 1MDB scam and SRC International’s losses were exposed because of the bold, brave, and dedicated people before Azam took the reins. How bolder can one be than investigating a sitting prime minister?
How could the work of Azam’s predecessor, Latheefa Koya, go “unrecognised”?
The series of audio tapes she released was relevant and was being used in the ongoing 1MDB trial. They gave us, the people, an understanding of the goings-on between various personalities and agencies, including the MACC and the AGC.
For Anwar, Azam is the chosen one - his blemished past must be sent into oblivion, and the persona of the “boldest man in Malaysia” must be created.
But in the process, Anwar should not degrade, insult, and damage the good names and the work of even bolder people, and proclaim he has “never seen such boldness from his predecessors.”
MACC chief commissioner Azam BakiHas Anwar forgotten the “my brother did it” false escape clause Azam used when he was accused of being actively involved in share trading while in office?
Oh, yes, that was a bold thing to do, too.
But if Anwar had done his homework, he would have asked the identity of the leader of a team of investigators who had previously briefed the lady of the house in Putrajaya on the investigation updates. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who tries to live up to the ethos of civil rights leader John Lewis: “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.” Comments: [email protected]
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

---