Speech by Lim Kit Siang at the Alor Setar DAP Branch Ceramah at Kang Har Tong Hall on Thursday, 3^rd September 2009 at 9 pm: 

First five months of Najib’s “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” slogan ends with MACC and Malaysian Police neck-to-neck as to which key national institution has lower public confidence and esteem

Yesterday morning, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammad was the special guest of the Star online live chat.

During Abu Kassim online chat, the newspaper carried an online opinion poll which produced the following results at 12.30 noon before it was taken off line:

1. How would rate the MACC's performance so far in fighting corruption?

Good - 3%
Fair - 0%
Poor - 98%

2. Should MACC only 'interview' suspects during office hours?

Yes - 79%
No - 6%
Depends on the situation - 15%

3. How would rate the MACC's handling of Teoh Beng Hock's case?

Good - 0%
Fair - 4%
Poor - 96%

4.Should it be made compulsory for lawyers to be present, ...

Yes - 83%
No - 6%
Depends on the situation - 11%

It is tragic and pathetic that the first five months of the new Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now” slogan is ending (as today marks Najib’s full five months as Prime Minister) with two key national institutions, the MACC and the Malaysian Police, neck-to-neck as to which organization has lower public confidence and esteem!

In the last week of July, the Home Ministry website carried an opinion poll whether the people felt safe, with the following results:

• 97% or 9,729 out of 10,060 respondents felt unsafe because of the high crime rate, with only 1% or 89 respondents felt safe and 2% or 242 respondents in the “uncertain” category.

• 95% or 8,883 out of 9,319 respondents felt that the safety of the people was not guaranteed as compared to 3% or 248 respondents who felt it was still guaranteed, with 2% or 188 respondents in the “uncertain” category.

• 94% or 8,743 out of 9,261 respondents felt that government had not done its best to ensure that the safety of the people was at the best level with 2% or 185 respondents felt that the government had done its best, and 4% or 333 persons “uncertain”?

It has been announced today that Tan Sri Musa Hassan’s contract as Inspector-General of Police has been renewed for another year although for the first time in the nation’s history, there had been an unprecedented nation-wide opposition to the second extension of Musa’s tenure as IGP.

It would appear that it is the very proof of failure to carry out the fundamental policing duties with 97% of the respondents in the Home Ministry poll felt unsafe at the high crime rate in the country and 94% of the respondents felt that the government had not done its best to ensure the safety of the people which are the key factors resulting in Musa’s favour and advantage, resulting in another year extension of his tenure as IGP.

By these same perverse standards, a MACC which is unable to command the confidence of 98% of the people to effectively combat corruption is the very MACC which is defended to the hilt by the Najib government.

With another one-year extension for Musa despite his abysmal performance, with 97% of the people who felt unsafe and 94% unconvinced that the police had done its best to protect the people’s safety, and a MACC where 98% lack confidence eight months after its establishment to replace the Anti-Corruption Agency, there appears to be no hope for any reforms to both institutions unless there is a total change of the federal government in the next general elections!

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor