If BN Continues To Trivialise The Climate Of Fraud, Bribery And Corruption That Is Presently At A “Rather Dangerous” Trend, Malaysia Will Not Be Able To Eliminate Poverty And Remain Stuck In The Middle-Income Trap.
BN continues to turn a blind eye to the shocking survey results by international accounting firm KPMG that fraud, bribery and corruption are at a “rather dangerous” trend and an inevitable part of doing business in Malaysia. KPMG’s survey conducted between March and August 2013, received about 100 responses from some 1,000 public-listed companies. Over a quarter of the respondents were either chief executive officers (CEOs) or Chief Financial Officers (CFOs).
About 80% believe that bribery and corruption have increased over the last three years, while 64% say that business cannot proceed unless bribes are paid. 81% agreed that they paid bribes to secure routine administrative approvals from government agencies. 83% acknowledged that fraud was a problem when doing business in Malaysia.
The abdication of duty by the Attorney-General Chambers in dropping charges of cheating against former transport minister and ex-MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy over the RM12.85 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal merely serve to confirm KPMG’s survey. BN must be reminded that if they continue to trivialise the climate of fraud, bribery and corruption that is presently at a “rather dangerous” trend, Malaysia will not be able to eliminate poverty and remain stuck in the middle-income trap.
The refusal by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission(MACC) to see the results of KPMG’s survey as a wake-up call is disappointing because it shows that MACC is in a state of denial about their utter ineffectiveness in combating corruption or inept failure to establish integrity and clean leadership. Not only is MACC unmoved that the Wall Street Journal and Transparency International have declared Malaysia as the world champion of corruption with RM1.2 trillion of illicit funds outflow over 10 years from 2002-2011, no action has been taken over wrongdoings and excessive spending exposed in the 2012 Auditor-General’s Report involving RM6.5 billion.
In this 2014 Ponggol message, DAP calls for renewal in fighting corruption by adopting these 6 steps of integrity:-
- 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.
Establishing integrity will not only bring human dignity but also economic dignity to Malaysians that reward hard work and gives equal opportunities to all. Only with economic dignity can Malaysia eliminate poverty and develop into high-income economy.