Sunday, April 4, 2010

WILL THE NEWLY TINTED ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY WORK?

I am back, and must thank all that have taken time to make comments at my last posting. It seems that I am not the only person to voice my reservation at PERKASA, and from the comments that I get, it is clear that a majority views PERKASA as nothing more than a political gimmick and a ‘hollow tin can’. Even BN Parliamentarian Nazri Aziz has declared PERKASA an opportunist; the only member of the ruling government to have opposed PERKASA, with the unusual silence from his own ruling party. Or was Nazri Aziz merely insinuating at Tun Dr. Mahathir for his presence at the AGM? And we know well that Nazri Aziz does not hide his ‘dislike’ for Tun, and is so often at loggerhead at what Tun does or say. Even the fire-brand Khairy seemed to have turned mute.

I also noticed that there were comments that viewed me as being anti-establishment. I am not at all surprised nor am I offended by such views, because I am an advocate of the freedom of speech and expression. And surely, the views that I have expressed in my postings cannot be totally wrong, nor do I claim that all that I have written is absolutely correct. It is up to the readers then to judge and to voice out their agreement or disagreement; however distasteful it is to me. It is for this very reason too that I do not wish to edit nor discard comments from my viewers. I view comments as an expression of one’s inner thoughts, and it is also through their writing that allows me to have a fair idea as to the character of a person.

I must say here that I do get regular calls from people and some do come forward to me to express their likes and dislike, or to put right some of the things that I have written. I do not have the cause or the reason to dislike them, nor do I want to get into an argument with them. I would merely say to them that they have every right to disagree, and I too have every right to say and write what I deem to be true. There is always one thing that I demand in a person i.e. that respect has to be mutual.

Now, on the question of corruption, the government seems to have conceded to the demands of the rakyat. PM Najib has recently announced a new policy that is supposed to enhance transparency and curb corruption in the award of contracts and tenders. I hope this policy is not merely a show by the government that they are serious in combating corruption. What this policy means is actually an acknowledgment by the government that corruption in this country is so rampant and blatant, and that something has to be done quickly before the country falls in line with some of the most corrupt countries of the world.

One needs to ask who actually are the perpetrators of this evil acts? My answer would firstly be politicians, and secondly civil servants. This is the undeniable truth, and since they are the powers themselves, I now begin to suspect that this new ‘anti-corruption policy’ announced by PM Najib may not be the end solution to the eradication of corruption in this country. Policies will be meaningless, if the people who manage and implement the policies are not sorted out first. We need people with integrity, honestly and God fearing to act as the custodian of these policies; not rouges and rascals that we so often hear off. It was only a few weeks ago that a young political secretary to a senior minister was caught with millions in his possession. Earlier, we had a civil servant who was a Director General with a substantial amount of unexplained cash kept in his house. These are examples of what I meant by rouges and rascals, and certainly such examples are not exhaustive.

I am told too that some top civil servants, especially those with the powers to approve huge tenders and contracts, have now got wiser in trying to escape noticed for corruption. They would approve tenders and contracts to their favoured companies; only to be offered a position as Chairman or Director of the company upon their retirement; of course with some monetary benefits accompanying the offer. And as Chairman and Director of the favoured company, they would then continue to play an influencing and exerting role to secure new tenders and contracts from the office where they had previously served. This is not uncommon, and one only needs to search the internet or refer to the Registrar of Companies to gain excess to names of Chairman and Directors of companies.

While I wish to remain skeptical of the new ‘anti-corruption policies’ introduced by the government recently, I am hopeful that something positive will come about from this policy. I also wish and hope that the ‘custodian’ of this policy are those who are trustworthy, honest and are well imbued with self respect, integrity and above all………God fearing.

CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

30 comments:

john karim said...

Dato,
Well said in relation to the comments about your views. I myself do not agree with some of the comments in your blog, but I accept the right of these individuals to say them. We, as Malaysians must learn to open up our minds and be able to accept differing views as much as we do not like them.

Capt's Longhouse said...

Dato,

CORRUPTION
Man is the only social animal,
Who ever is infected with the virus of corruption,
Greed be its roots,
Narrow thinking is its branches,
Cruelty as its trunk,
Dirty monies are its food,
So we can just imagine !.
What evil fruits be the product of his corruption ?

abdulhalimshah said...

Dato' Arshad Raji,
In the past, all government tenders had to abide by the Treasury Instructions which over a period of time been ignored or been shred to pieces in order to serve certain vested interests or groups. What is announced is nothing new to public servants who followed the TI religiously.
You are right to the point by saying that whatever system is being adopted, there is no substitute for people who are God-fearing and dedicated to serve without fear or favour in making it work. As what you have said happening in the MAF nowadays with the promotion system being decimated by cronyism and so-called meritocracy as seen from the eyes of those who dispense the rewards,the same is happening in the other branches of the public service where almost every person just gives lip service to all the paragon of virtues that are being mouthed by leaders whose track records in the department of integrity and honesty are much to be desired. Unless you have people in power who are God-fearing, upright, ethical and honest and proven to be incorruptible, however good the system is being put in place will just be no better than an act of window-dressing and pure rhetoric. Your example of the tender exercise for the camouflage uniform of the soldiers is a case in point. That is just a relatively small one when compared to purchases of military hardware and other strategic equipment which have been mentioned earlier.
The walk must accompany the talk. No matter how exalted one's position is, the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Let no one misconstrue my comments as being anti-establishment, as we all want to see BERSIH, CEKAP and AMANAH be resurrected like a phoenix rising from the ashes.

Capt's Longhouse said...

Dato, may i echo this from Nini Talk too cos. we got to rub it in !.

UNCIVIL SERVANTS
,,,It comes as no surprise that civil servants top the list of people detained and charged for “corrupt practices”! According to the figures released by the MACC the highest incidence of corruption occurred among government servants especially those in the support group.
,,,Vested with the authority to approve applications from the public for government licences, schemes and projects; grants, scholarships, subsidies and other handouts, civil servants often assume a superior position in performing their duties. Given access to huge public funds and the discretion in allocating them, some officials are imbued with a sense of power over those seeking government-controlled opportunities. Wielding the arm of enforcement they are open to persuasion from those eager to cut corners and escape the tedium of bureaucracy, procedures and regulations and the full brunt of the law. It is an irony in the vicious circle of corruption that government red tape provides a fertile breeding ground for corruption, and corrupt bureaucrats increase the extent of red tape to extract additional bribes.
,,,In a country poised for development, the opportunities to make money are everywhere and open to everyone except the public servants who earn a modest salary compared to their peers in the private sector. It is no wonder then that to improve their living standards, the more gullible among them fall prey to the monetary temptations and bribes offered by the entrepreneurs participating in government-controlled businesses. And it would be logical to deduce that the officials handling ventures yielding abnormal profit are likely to be offered greater inducements.
,,,While we are quick to denounce the uncivil servant charged with bribery and corruption, we forget that at the other end of the continuum is the equally greedy and corrupt member of the public, business house and even multinational corporation dangling the carrots filled with money, luxury goods, condominiums and family holidays. We condemn the takers while ignoring the givers whose excuse is that they are expected to grease the palms of the officials waiting in line to serve the public. Ironically, we sympathise with a business community driven to work the country’s resources forgetting that they too are exploitative and corruptible.
,,,In a country where the culture of materialism has taken root, it is not surprising that the citizens from both sides of the public and private divide are in a desperate rush to get rich. In the mad frenzy to answer the government’s clarion call for development and more development, people are prepared to literally cut corners in driving to reach their destination and achieve their goals. In a society where the measurement of success is quantity rather than quality, speed is of the utmost importance in getting to that magical level of affluence and material advancement.

Sadly with speed accidents happen – many of them fatal!

FMZam said...

Are we going to stop talking just because some bastards called us anti-establishment? Nothing made us stop and nothing keep those bastards from keep calling us anything. What do we care about being anti-establishment for the establishment we are anti is the establishment of dirty people. Najib is not clean when UMNO is dirty. BN is not clean when UMNO is dirty. This government is not clean when UMNO is dirty. UMNO is the filth.

F said...

''Najib is not clean when UMNO is dirty. BN is not clean when UMNO is dirty.''

Certainly true. I've never held a high regard for politicans, period, irrespective of who they are or what part they represent.
But in my opinion I haven't reach the stage where I can trust the opposition with taking over the reins of power in Putrajaya and to run this country.

Is Anwar as really as clean and transparent as he claims to be?

Is he really as comitted to reforming this country as he claims?

How can Pakatan run this country when PAS and DAP don't even share a commong agenda and ideology?

When it comes to making sensational statements for political milage, Pan politicans in my opinion are no better than the BN yet they claim a monopoly on truth, fairness and good governance.

FMZam said...

Nobody's perfect, Anwar's clean or not is not a damning question than the whole of UMNO is dirty to the core, but we have a brave to fight the government in question that matters. UMNO is the government, Pakatan not yet. UMNO is proven the dirty government that is real. Pakatan may be dirty too but that is still remote. The question is not who is clean, the question is the filth that needs to be cleansed.

abdulhalimshah said...

I recalled what Adam Malik the one time Vice-President of Indonesia telling the rioting students that there were no one who is clean except the Prophet Muhammad (PBU) and as such it is next to the impossible to expect as such. But we must strive to bring change for the better.

komando said...

So they say that all politicians are dirty now...some say PAS and DAP have different agendas!

What about the idiots in BN for all this donkey years, do they not have a different set of Agendas!

Look at the coin it has two sides, we will all see if Pakatan can rule when they rule and not otherwise, now everybody says they can't rule and want the DIRTY UMNO AND BN to remain in power!

Even though we have given them so much slack, they have only proven themselves to be the most corrupted we can ever see and hear!

SO LETS WAIT AND SEE WHAT PAKATAN CAN DO GIVE THEM A CHANCE, THAT IS MY TAKE, IF THEY FAIL US WE KICK THEM OUT !

Malaysian said...

Would you trust anybody to keep your money? NO!

That's why we have election. With election, we can change the government every five years. Therefore, we badly needed a viable two party system. Furthermore, we need to get rid of ISA and create Freedom of Information Act. With Freedom of Information Act, we can look into the government account.

Lastly, we must reform our judicial system. Our judicial system currently is too cozy with politician ( I don't think I need to provide any examples here)

F said...

That DAP and PAS have different political agendas and ideology is a fact, not a figment of my imagination nor is it BN propaganda. The main point of contention between both parties is Hudud. DAP has made it very clear that in the event of PAS declaring Hudud, DAP will leave the coalition. Since Anwar likes to remind us that he is the opposition leader, he should act like a leader and officialy state PKR's official position on Hudud.

Furthermore, since there has been dicussion on this blog on defence matters, Pakatan should make a
take a firm position on where it stands with regards to our defence policy and which direction it aims to go. They should also propose in parliment that the govermnent issue a defence White Paper.

Malaysian,

I'm not disputing the need for a strong opposition nor the need for a check and balance. I believe we have to be objective when it comes to appraising the performance and conduct of all opposition parties.

Malaysian said...

It's true that DAP and PAS have different ideology. Similarly, UMNO, MIC and MCA have different agenda too. MCA only seek to help the Chinese business community and UMNO seek to protect the elite only.

That's why we must not vote along political party or racial line. We must vote politician that fight corruption, uphold social justice, seek judicial reform, etc. We must let the politician from Pakatan and BN know our demand. We must set higher standard for this country politician. It's time to vote wisely.

abdulhalimshah said...

When the majority of voters are those who were born after Merdeka, my guess is plain and clear that 90% of them will vote according to the candidate's potential and incorruptibilty as well as serving the needs of the electorate.
But given the current weightage to rural constituencies who are now being pampered with "Wang Ehsan" and "Instant projects" like in Hulu Selangor, the inclination is obvious. By-elections allow corruption to be tolerated.

FMZam said...

UMNO is the party that condones corruption there's no way it is honest to eradicating corruption that the only course opened is for the people to totally uproot this UMNO tree from our soil once and for all.

komando said...

MR. F... who ever you are or may be....you can be a fuchow or fook chow or forkchew or worst forkyou!

Haiyah when did UMNO ever wanted HUDUD...they were the ones frightening every human being and even every blade of grass in this bodoh land!

You cant even understand how it works yourself, so do not cry wolf, for wolf are shot dead most of the time!

UMNO can lie and cheat, but not all Muslims are IN UMNO,..be aware of that, and real Muslims knows how HUDUD works, DEFINITELY not by just SWEEPING AND CLEANING THE TOILETS ONE CAN GET AWAY WITH A CRIME....

"THE DAY WILL COME AND THE DAY WILL DAWN ON THE TOO CLEVER PERSONS WHO CHANGE GODS DIVINE LAWS...THEY WILL ANSWER AND THEY SHALL ANSWER TO HIM AND HIM ALONE"


CIS CIS CIS - now who is talking?
get the facts right than can come and talk...don't jive us babe! we are not young chickens, we are all old cocks, do not try to teach us how to crow.... young "F" - arts !

Malaysian said...

Dear Sir "abdulhalimshah"

Do you mean it's hopeless for us since rural folks vote based on instant project only?

Salam

F said...

Encik Kommando....

Just because I've said something and expressed an opinion which is contrary to your views, I'm suddenly ''crying wolf'' and ''trying to jive'' you????

I take it that you're the only one who ''knows how it works''?
The last time I checked the purpose of this blog was to share opinions and thoughts on common issues, yet I've being given an analogy about ''crying wolf'' and ''wolfs being shot dead''? But then again maybe I forgot that its only you and you alone who ''knows how it works''.....

FMZam said...

Dear Malaysian,

Najib badly needs to win in Hulu Selangor as an endorsement of his year one as PM. The Risik boys must be working hard there now to give assessment and Najib has already echoed the confidence of winning. For that, BN will never field Palanivel, but an UMNO, a solid UMNO man, probably an UMNO ironman. With all those things UMNO had done unto Pakatan in Selangor whilst MIC did nothing more than just idling, it will be stupid for UMNO to not to stamp their dhoby mark on Hulu Selangor and let all their efforts to be wasted by the souless MIC. It still lingers in my ears UMNO had voice it out to field a candidate that can win doesn't matter who. It's a matter of mind over matter, MIC doesn't mind, UMNO doesn't matter.

samsaimon said...

Dato, FMZam, Komando and all,
Do you know that the Police Personnel now has two (2) IC ?
One, the Police ID and the other My Kad, Why Why Why !!!
Get Hishammuddin to answer! Anwar,LKS and Karpal Should ask this in parliment !!!

FMZam said...

samsaimon,

Why don't you start thinking there are even VIPs and politicians that have to have two(2) International passports? One to Israel and another for normal use to countries that don't like your visit to Israel. No need to ask Hishamuddin his answers will make more clouds for the raining.

samsaimon said...

Bro FMZam,
I'm more concerned about the election irregularities to happen!
Its likely.

FMZam said...

samsaimon,

Sorry my alarm is not strobbing light on that, your suspicion makes sense, PDRM wallahs have that possibility to double vote. Hmm...a fine thought sam, and in EC voters roll will appear two same name but different ICs. Can that be the reason of extra 2500 voters for Hulu Selangor? Quite crude election fraud?

Unknown said...

Sorry Dato',
The answer to your question is definitely NO.
In determining the integrity and effectiveness of the MACC, one must ask the following questions:
Firstly, are they an independent body? The answer is no.
Even an idiot will know that once a enforcement department like MACC acts like 'a dog on a leash', it will lose its ability to function impartially. How can it be effective?
Second, Has the change in name and organisational structure enabled MACC to enhance its public image?
Hardly. To my mind, a rose by any other name is still a rose. So if the old ACA was seen by the public as an ineffectual entity then, so is the MACC today. This perception is unlikely to change no matter what the Govt or the MACC does to cleanse its public image.
How do we enhance public trust on the MACC?
1) Give it total independence. Do not place it under any particular ministry instead make the department answerable direct to parliament.
2) Enact new laws, draconian if need be, to ensure that public servants do not live beyond their means. Those found to do so and unable to prove rationally that the extra income were obtained legally should be procuted, irregardless of rank.
3) Man the department with professionals. Recruit qualified and motivated personnel fresh from university, not from the corruption riddled PDRM or such like departments.
4) If it is palatable, get a foreigner to head the department. This will not only ensure impartiality in the prosecution of cases, but will enhance the integrity of the department locally and internationally.
Bottom line Dato, until such time big fishes like Khir Toyo, Tiong, Ramli and Khasitah gets implicated properly and thereafter punished, whatever measures taken by the govt and the department to portray a different perspective of the MACC can only be viewed as " finish rice only"

abdulhalimshah said...

To Malaysian, my point is not an expression of despair but rather to create an awareness that a lot of legwork and canvassing by the opposition is a must if you want to win the coming by-election where the ruling party with its "instant projects" and ringgits shall overwhelm the constituency till polling day.
To Wira, as loyal citizens we must differentiate between fact and fiction, the government machinery and politics. If there is an avenue for us to bring the wrongdoers to jail, then an effort must be made with the first step, ie. to lodge a report specifying the nature of the offence, the persons involved, time and place and the proof if any. Let the law takes its course and give trust to where it lays, that is the officers who had the sworn duty to serve the King and the Federal Constitution.
Without malice,one must not make allegations without substantial evidence. To prove corrupt practice is not as simple as ABC. The evidence must be ironclad and corroboration is sometimes extremely difficult due to lack of cooperation from witnesses. No matter how one perceives MACC to be, it is the only government body who is empowered and entrusted to bring the guilty party to jail. The MACC is not staffed by seconded officers from the Police anymore and mostly are direct recruits who have been selected through an independent body which is the Public Service Commission. Only the top legal officer is seconded from the Legal and Judicial Service and this is to ensure that the norms and practice on prosecution is adhered to without compromise. Let us give them a chance and bring the corrupt to face the law and let justice prevail. If we have no confidence in them, then we also contribute to the decline of law and order,and by default allow the corrupt practices to flourish in this land of ours. By not lifting a finger to combat this heinous crime one is guilty also of letting the crooks to go free and enjoy their ill-gotten loot.
Let us do our duty to save this beloved land from the nefarious actvities of the scoundrels who bleed the nation of its resources,and no matter who they are and whichever political divide they come from we are dutybound to bring them to justice but first let Dato' Arshad do the needful, that is to lodge the
report.

komando said...

MR F. again you want a White Paper on this country's Defence? Come on bro that is national secret lah babe, apa lah lu mau cakap woi !?

Mr.F - So if you know how Hudud Laws are conducted ...well & good, kindly please educate the non muslims and make them be aware of it, do not create fear instead ! Just like what UMNO has done successfully for the past 55 years and counting!


The UMNO members fear HUDUD because they will be the first ones to lose BOTH HANDS !

CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHY I SAID SO?

MR.F back to you...the ball I mean! Its in your court now..kindly explain your stand...otherwise get some brainy UMNO Cyber-trooper to help you!

Unknown said...

Dear Dato',
Some of us have been quite scathing in our remarks about the MACC. Sorry about that.
Being ex-service, we cannot help but view departmental and organisational performance through the military prism. Thats how we are, and I am not going to be apologetic about it.
Saudara AbdulHalim, contrary to your views, the record still shows that thus far, the performance of the MACC leaves much to be desired... I do not believe they are likely to or able to improve on it. Time will prove me right.
Further, if you were to read between the lines, I was actually pointing my finger more at their political masters rather than the organisation itself.
Having said that, I do agree with some of your views, especially with regard to giving the MACC a chance. Tapi berapa lama mahu tunggu dan berapa banyak peluang mahu bagi?
Consider this. In any democratic society, the Military answers to the govt in power. In that sense, the politicians assume the role of master, empowered, if you like, to determine such things as the size and shape of the military, and indeed, how, when and where they are to be employed. Why is this so?The answer is simple enough.
However, can such a structure be applied in the case of the MACC? The answer is a definite NO.
Siapa yang takut anjing yang ditambat?
I rest my case.

abdulhalimshah said...

Dear Wira,
Thank you for your response. You mentioned about the command structure of the MAF. I do not agree that by adopting the structure of MAF by MACC will make it more effective. In our system of government all organs and institutions of government are accountable through parliamentary democracy, whereby Ministers are answerable for their ministeries and departments and there is no organization in the government which is absolutely autonomous.
There certain things that are within our control and there are many which we have to accept, whether we like it or not. We have no control on the way politicians behave, but if they breach the trust given, they too have to answer to the people through elections. And it is at this juncture we are able to choose.

komando said...

Get rid of all of them when the right time & kick them out for good.

Do not let the chance and opportunity TO slip by for we will all continue to suffer under this DRACONIAN DICTATORSHIP CALLED UMNO !

MAKE YOUR VOTES COUNT, MAKE EVERYONE BE A REGISTERED VOTER, EXERCISE YOUR RIGHTS, SELECT AND CHOOSE A CLEAN GOVT COME GE 13, BURY BN FOR GOOD once and for all!

F said...

kommando,

Janganlah cepat marah. I dont know anyone in UMNO to help me. Not being sarcastic, it's true. I never said 'I know how Hudud laws are conducted'' - please don't misquote me.

What secrets in defence White Papers are you talking about? There is a key difference between national/operational secrets and a White Paper. A number of countries have Defence White papers that do not contain secrets and are released to the public.

A defence White Paper is meant to outline which direction the government intends to take with regards to our defence policy, relations,procurement, threats, etc. It also helps promotes accountabilty and helps prevent the government from mismanaging things.

komando said...

The white paper will turn Black if they dare reveal what they are up to!

Are we buying what we need and require or we buying "what we can make most out of IT "

SO my take is just let them hang themselves and let them all play the dirty tricks and dirty games, they are all going somewhere you and I do not want to go, "BUT THEY LIKE & LOVE IT THERE BETTER"!

SO MY DEAR FRIEND, JUST KEEP WATCHING THE GAMES, IT WILL COME TO AN END ONE FINAL DAY, REST ASSURED.

AS FOR THE HUDUD, I SUGGEST YOU GO TO KELANTAN AND ASK YB TOK GURU NIK AZIZ, HE CAN GIVE THE BEST EXPLANATION, I AM ALSO STILL LEARNING, HE IS THE EXPERT!


IT IS NOT EASY TO POTONG ALL THE TANGAN OF YB... YB... YB... SEMUA...!

So why be afraid ?

IT IS THE GUILTY CONSCIENCE THAT MAKES THEM WORRY AND SCARED! THEY KNOW VERY WELL THEY HAVE "MAKAN RASUAH", "MERAMPAS HAK RAKYAT", "MENIDAS YANG LEMAH", "MELAKU TIDAK ADIL KEPADA RAKYAT", THE WORST OF ALL "MENIPU RAKYAT HIDUP HIDUP" !

"THE MOST DIFFICULT THING IN THIS WORLD IS TO FIND THE ABSOLUTE PROOF OF ANY WRONG DOING, IF THERE IS THE SLIGHTEST DOUBT WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE IT TO THE ACCUSE!!!"
WE SET HIM FREE!

WE DO NOT WANT TO PUNISH AN INNOCENT PERSON, BUT IF MAN MADE LAWS AND MAN AND HIS BRAINS CAN MANIPULATE FACTS, FIGURES, STATS & INFORMATION, SURELY THEY CAN WIN A CASE WITH TECHNICALITIES...BEING QUESTIONED !

BUT THE FINAL JUDGE HAS THE DS PINK SOLUTION, NOTHING ESCAPES HIS JUDGMENT !

THERE IS NO ESCAPE CLAUSE MIND YOU!

EVENTUALLY YOU GET CAUGHT!