The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) yesterday revealed that between 2014 to 2016, 2,329 arrests were made for graft. From that figure, 54 per cent or 1,267 people were aged 40 and below.
From that amount, 635 or 50 per cent were civil servants.
“We have cases where junior government officers and clerks can afford to buy the latest iPhone models and drive expensive cars. Their flashy lifestyle does not match their measly pay as young officers and administrative assistants under the government pay scale,” said MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil.
Not only the junior government officers and clerks, our Prime Minister and his family are also famous of having a lavish lifestyle that does not commensurate with his official emoluments.
In view of the fact that corruption in this country is getting serious, it is time for us to amend MACC Act to provide bigger investigating power to MACC.
Under the current MACC Act, possessing luxurious items is not an offence unless if the items were procured through corruption. Section 36(3) which has to be read together with Section 36(1) of the MACC Act stipulates that an “offence predicate” has to be committed before a person can be investigated. This is unlike provisions of Section 10 of the Prevention of Bribery Ordinance of Hong Kong, which says that any person who, being or having been the Chief Executive or a prescribed officer,
(a) maintains a standard of living above that which is commensurate with his present or past official emoluments; or
(b) is in control of pecuniary resources or property disproportionate to his present or past official emoluments,
shall, unless he gives a satisfactory explanation to the court as to how he was able to maintain such a standard of living or how such pecuniary resources or property came under his control, be guilty of an offence.
Not only that, in accordance with Section 12 of the Independent Commission Against Corruption Ordinance (ICACO), the ICAC Commissioner has a statutory duty to investigate pursuable allegations under the POBO.
Being rich is of course not a sin. However as an office bearer in Government, it is important to be transparent as to the source of the fortune so that people are assured that the politician does not abuse the power and position to accumulate and build wealth.
If indeed there is nothing unusual in their wealth, Najib and his cabinet should have no difficulties to support the proposed amendment to MACC Act. So, will they support this proposal to further empower MACC in combating graft among the civil servants and to clean up the Malaysian public sector?