No point for Dato Seri Najib Abdul Razak to sign Integrity Pledges if he doesn't commit to publicly declaring assets, open competitive tenders and return the use of government jets, helicopters and vehicles back to the government
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak pledges to fight corruption in the BN 13th General Election manifesto by establishing more specialist graft courts and allowing greater public disclosure of government contracts is meaningless if he refuses to commit to publicly declaring his assets, open competitive tenders and return the use of government jets, helicopters and vehicles back to the government.
What is the use of setting up specialist graft courts if they are only a decorative vase and there is double-standards as those in high positions are not punished for transgressions of anti-corruption law? Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC)’s failure to respond to Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s attacks on them as dishonest and naughty is shocking.
For a Chief Minister to refuse to co-operate with MACC over corruption allegations against him is a serious breach of duty and statutory obligation. Under section 47 and 48 of the MACC Act 2009, such refusal to co-operate with MACC when you are subject to investigation, may be an offence which can be punished by a maximum fine of RM10,000 or imprisonment of 2 years or both.
Najib’s failure to punish and act against Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud for such disgraceful remarks only shows a failure to fulfill his promise to act without fear or favour. Najib had previously broken his promise to get Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud to retire.
It is meaningless for Najib to sign integrity pledges when he refuses to adopt the following 6 integrity measures to fight corruption and establish clean governance.
Instituting public declaration of assets of the Prime Minister, Ministers, Chief Minister and the EXCO members vetted by an international accounting firm.
Implementing open competitive tenders.
Bar family members from involvement in government contracts.
Protect genuine whistleblowers.
Remove leaders with extravagant lifestyles.
Come clean on political donations.
Penangites has benefited from successfully battling corruption with an extra RM150 million in cash handouts and a 55% increase in development expenditure to build basic infrastructure. Further, clean governance has allowed Penang to be the first state in Malaysia to wipe out poverty by ensuring every household/family has an income of at least RM770 per month. Families with less than RM770 monthly income will have the difference topped up by the state government every month. In other words, a family with RM600 monthly income will receive RM170 monthly under the PR.
28 Million 3rd Class Economic Citizens
Corruption has turned 28 million Malaysians generally into 3rd class economic citizens. The first class economic citizens are BN leaders whereas the 2nd class are BN cronies and followers. The Malays have become 3rd class economic citizens as a result of financial scandals such as the RM 52 billion bumi share scandal. RM54 billion of shares were allocated to bumis but none of the ordinary Malays or bumis from Sabah and Sarawak received a single share and only RM2 billion of shares remain.
To date the BN government has refused to investigate the loss of RM52 billion of bumi shares. If PR wins power, a full investigation would be conducted against those responsible and RM52 billion worth of shares would be recovered and returned to the poor Malays and bumis from East Malaysia.
The Chinese have also become 3rd class economic citizens, being forced to finance Chinese schools when MCA Ministers and BN leaders were more interested in the RM13.85 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone scandal. Whereas the Indians have become 3rd class economic citizens with the unresolved and failed MAIKA scandal. A full investigation would be carried out and the monies recovered to return back to the respective Chinese and Indian communities.
In Sabah and Sarawak, two of the richest states in natural resources in Malaysia, also have the highest poverty levels because the leaders are more interested in enriching themselves or their families. The expose of RM871 billion outflow of illicit funds or “black” money from 2001-2010 by the Washington-based financial watchdog 2012 Global Financial Integrity (GFI) Report shows how much the people have lost from such leakages - RM31,000 per Malaysian.
There is no point for Dato Seri Najib Abdul Razak to sign integrity pledges or set up specialist graft courts if he does not commit to publicly declaring assets, open competitive tenders and return the use of government jets, helicopters and vehicles back to the government.
