Press statement by Teresa Kok, Senior Selangor State Executive Councilor for Investments, Trade & Industry on 02nd March 2009 at Shah Alam on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner’s conduct on the investigations on Mentri Besar, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim
I am most distressed by the unethical conduct of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shah Hamdan in respect of the ongoing corruption investigations on Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim which increasingly appears to be politically motivated and has raised public perceptions that the MACC practises double standards.
The Chief Commissioner’s conduct in discussing the case publicly even before the matter had been reviewed by the Attorney-General’s chambers or a decision made to prosecute appears to be an attempt to start a “trial by the media” and in the process deny Tan Sri Khalid his right to a fair trial.
The donation of cows by subsidiary companies of the Selangor state were part of the companies’ corporate social responsibilities and did not involve the expenditure of state government funds. This had been clearly explained by the parties concerned including the state government and the companies that made the donations. This was a noble and charitable exercise in keeping with the sanctity of Hari Raya Korban which is a significant event not just to Muslims but to Christians as well.
Similarly, Tan Sri Khalid’s choice of using his personal car for official duties was made a subject of investigation although this had in fact resulted in cost savings to the state.
The state government is presently looking into some apparent accounting and financial irregularities in certain state subsidiaries and I do hope to see the MACC investigate these complaints when reports are made in due course, with the same zealousness that was seen in investigating Tan Sri Khalid.
Similarly, I hope to see more strident action on the many reports that had been made to the MACC alleging impropriety in the conduct of a previous Menteri Besar. Only then will the public believe that the MACC is indeed independent and acts fairly without fear or favour.
The fact that the authorities concerned moved with such speed on what appears to be trivial complaints motivated by political considerations leads one to wonder on the purported independence and fearlessness of the Anti-Corruption Commission.
As i have said, the new MACC is the same if not worst than the former ACA. At least the former ACA acted like a dumb dumb and dudok diam diam. When our sleepy flipflop lame duck guy claimed that he has revamped the ACA and now called it MACC, he thought he was doing a “great” job to the rakyat. Alas, the scenario can best be described as “Old Wine in a new bottle”. Same old story , same old song. Just look at the MACC chief recent remarks on the opposition was proof that this agency is just another BN running dogs. No less, no more.
When the Perak elected representatives resigned – two of whom are under corruption charges – to join Barisan as independents, we did not hear MACC’s enthusiasm to initiate investigations into the matter to see if bribery was the reason for party-switching. Till todate what has been done??? Practically ZERO, all swept under the carpet.
We did not get a proper closure on the Lingam tape case and the people that were implicated. We also did not hear a satisfactory outcome on the investigations into the PKFZ issue.
Corruption, bribery and money politics among government officials !!! The list goes on……
I can forsee that there would not be any genuine future reforms/changes across all government related agencies as long as we have the same old, corrupted and greedy politicians still running around. The only solution. Change the present damn government is the only choice.
MACC should look at the old stories like Bakun, Bank Negara forex losses, the tin mine cornering debacle.
now those sums were HUGE!