Zaid Toys With Bold Rafizi As Macc Chief

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Zaid Ibrahim is toying with the idea of appointing Rafizi Ramli as the next MACC chief commissioner - all thanks to a suggestion from a Malaysiakini reader in the comments section.
ADS“That comment caught my eye. I couldn’t help but mull it over and, well, here we are,” he told Malaysiakini.
The former law minister thinks Rafizi looks like a solid pick - at least on paper.
“Given his track record of calling out corruption, you could argue he’s tailor-made for the job.
“And let’s be honest, he definitely ticks the ‘brave’ box that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim keeps going on about,” he added.
Rafizi was among those who raised the alarm about the 1MDB scandal before the issue exploded.
He also exposed alleged corruption in the National Feedlot Corporation scandal.
Zaid IbrahimDespite this, Zaid couldn’t resist tossing in a sarcastic caveat, suggesting that Anwar’s idea of “brave” might not quite align with everyone else’s.
“I have got this sneaky feeling that our ‘reformist’ prime minister may have reformed the definition of bravery,” he added.
“In the updated ‘reformist dictionary’, ‘brave’ might just mean toeing the line - going after political enemies while giving friends a free pass,” he added.
Non-starter
Zaid said that while appointing Rafizi as the MACC chief might sound like a brilliant idea on paper, it’s a non-starter in real life.
“Rafizi might not be the kind of ‘brave’ - read: obedient - that some people in power prefer. Anwar wouldn’t risk it in a million years,” he quipped.
ADSZaid also tossed in one more cautionary note - Rafizi is still an active politician, which means there’s always the risk he could use the post to push his own playbook.
“Rafizi may have his own agendas and ambitions. While he claims to be committed to reforms and other ideals, one must not overlook the fact that he has remained largely silent since his appointment as a minister.
“He justified this silence on rather flimsy grounds, arguing that, as a member of the administration, speaking out would breach protocol.
“But isn’t this the very behaviour that Pakatan Harapan leaders once criticised MCA and MIC for during BN’s rule? This appears to be yet another instance of political doublespeak,” he added.
Azam the ‘bold’
The MACC chief commissioner position came under scrutiny after the government reappointed Azam Baki for a third term, despite Harapan’s previous criticism of his performance.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and MACC chief Azam BakiEven Nurul Izzah, Anwar Ibrahim’s daughter - who defeated Rafizi in the PKR election to become her father's deputy in the party - described the contract extension as unwelcome.
Nevertheless, Anwar defended the decision, citing Azam’s boldness in pursuing high-level corruption cases.
The MACC - like other enforcement agencies - continues to face accusations of selective prosecution, even under Anwar’s leadership, despite his promises of sweeping reforms as prime minister. - Mkini

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