KUALA LUMPUR: The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) will be renaned as Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption (MCAC) next year. Like Hong Kong's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC), it will possess an independent status.
The MCAC will follow the ICAC structure and thus, it is absolutely independent, said Malaysia Institute of Integrity (MII) President Datuk Dr Mohd Tap Salleh.
He told Sin Chew Daily that corruption in Hong Kong was once worse than the situation in Malaysia. But after the establishment of ICAC, the situation has greatly improved. Everyone praised that it is highly efficient. Thus, there is no reason why MCAC, which follows ICAC's structure is not an independent body.
“I want to stress that the MCAC is independent and even the existing ACA is as well independent. We can't say that ACA is unable to investigate cases as it is subordinate to the Prime Minister Department,” he said.
The People Should Provide Information
Dr Tap Salleh said the common problem of the people is they blame the authorities for not doing their job well. However, the people do not play well their role either to provide information and evidence to assist the authority in investigations.
He also said that many people complained that ditches were blocked because the local government did not clen them up but they never thought that the ditches were blocked because they threw rubbishes into the ditches.
He stressed that it is impossible to completely eradicate corruption as even the corruption-free index of incorruptible Finland is only 9 points out of 10. If the people refuse to provide information to help the authority eradicate these black sheep, we would not have to expect for a probity Malaysia.
“Without information provided by the public, it will be hard for ACA to investigate those suspected of being involved in corruption; without evidence, it will be hard to prosecute suspects. If the people do not change their mentality, it would be hard for ACA to make a difference even if it has 20,000 officials,” he said.
Dr Tap Salleh added that ACA's achievements could be seen in recent days. Immigration and government senior officials suspected of being involved in corruption would not be arrested if ACA was not independent or not active in investigations.
(Sin Chew Daily)
MySinchew
2008.09.22
mi1: What have they said had materialised, only talks BUT NO actions or attempt to take actions to improvise at all.
PEOPLE'S POWER
The man stressed that it is impossible to completely eradicate corruption as even the corruption-free index of incorruptible Finland is only 9 points out of 10. If the people refuse to provide information to help the authority eradicate these black sheep, we would not have to expect for a probity Malaysia.
ReplyDeleteThis is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. Instead of tackling issues at mid-heirarchy horizontal level, why don't the ACA go after the culprits using the top down approach. Very simple. Visit each Minister, Deputy Minister, ex-Minister, AG, SG, etc home and you can easily see for yourself the lifestyle of such people. To start of with, the number of cars,and I mean cars in the made of Porsche and BMWs, they have in their garages. At their pay, can they truly afford such assets. It is not to say that the public do not wish to give feedback, but knowing how the ACA is beholden to the PM's office, we might as well forget the whole idea. Now Raymond Tan, ex-SAPP, has already spilt the beans. What is there more to say, when the likes of him and the PM can influence what the ACA can do and cannot do.