Untuk masa depan SPRM yang lebih gemilang, cemerlang serta penuh integriti, diucapkan selamat bertugas kepada Datuk Abu Kassim.
Abu Kassim Ganti Ahmad Said Ketuai SPRM Mulai 1 Jan
KUALA LUMPUR, 4 Dis (Bernama) -- Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed dilantik menjadi Ketua Pesuruhjaya yang baru mulai 1 Jan ini menggantikan Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan.
Ketua Setiausaha Negara Tan Sri Sidek Hassan hari ini berkata Ahmad Said, 57, telah mengemukakan notis bertulis supaya kontrak perkhidmatan beliau sebagai Ketua Pesuruhjaya, yang sepatutnya tamat pada 25 Mei 2010, dipendekkan pada 31 Dis ini.
"Yang di-Pertuan Agong telah memperkenankan pelantikan Abu Kassim, 48, sebagai Ketua Pesuruhjaya yang baru berdasarkan peruntukan subseksyen 5(1) Akta Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia 2009," kata Sidek dalam satu kenyataan.
Abu Kassim berkelulusan Ijazah Sarjana Muda Sains Sosial dari Universiti Sains Malaysia, dan Sarjana Sains dalam bidang Criminal Justice dari Michigan State University, Amerika Syarikat.
Abu Kassim dilahirkan di Kuala Lumpur pada 5 Dis 1960 menyertai Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR) pada 1 Sept 1984 sebagai pegawai siasatan.
Beliau pernah menjadi Pengarah Perancangan dan Koordinasi Dasar di ibu pejabat BPR, Pengarah BPR Perak dan Pulau Pinang, Pengarah Akademi Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia dan dipinjamkan sebagai Ketua Pegawai Integriti, Amanah Raya Berhad.
Abu Kassim dilantik sebagai Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Operasi) BPR pada 1 Jan 2007, dan dengan berkuatkuasanya akta baru pada 1 Jan 2009, beliau dilantik sebagai Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya SPRM.
Sidek berkata kerajaan mengucapkan ribuan terima kasih kepada Ahmad Said kerana sumbangannya.
-- BERNAMA
SPRM DAPAT KETUA BARU
SPRM / MACC PERLU BADAN PEMANTAUAN DALAMAN
An internal investigations division should be set up to prevent any malpractice or abuse of power by commission officers in MACC. Who keeps watch on MACC to ensure there is no black sheep in the organisation or guards turning into poachers????
MACC needs in-house watchdog
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must have a mechanism to carry out checks and balances among its members, especially to ensure there are no black sheep in the commission.
Ramon Navaratnam (foto)
Its Corruption Consultation and Prevention Panel chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam told theSun that an internal investigations division should be set up to prevent any malpractice or abuse of power by commission officers.
“We don’t want the guards turning poachers,” Navaratnam said, referring to officers who might be susceptible to wrong practices.
He said although most officers of MACC uphold high standards of moral ethics and integrity, the fact that some officers might compromise their values can’t be ruled out.
“I don’t think the problem (of corrupt officers) is widespread,” said Navaratnam.
“But it could happen on an individual basis. That is why we must have a proper check and balance system.”
He said the MACC should establish an internal investigations division to probe its own members similar to the police, which has a criminal inspectorate division that sacks or suspends policemen who commit any offence.
He said such a measure will ensure the MACC projects a credible image to the public.
He told about 400 MACC officers at a meeting last week that it was important for the commssion to show a difference from the days of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA).
“The public expect MACC to perform and there is no significant evidence that the MACC is performing better than the ACA,” he said.
Recently, there were news reports in local dailies that an officer from MACC was under probe for malpractices and abuse of power.
The MACC subsequently denied the allegations.
Tim Leonard/sun2surf
SPRM TUTUP SATU KES SIASATAN VIDEO LINGAM
Panel lima anggota suruhanjaya mendapati klip video yang menunjukkan peguam Datuk V.K.Lingam sedang berbual di telefon dengan bekas ketua hakim negara Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim mengenai pelantikan hakim, adalah tulen.
SPRM Tutup Satu Daripada Kertas Siasatan Video Lingam
KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Jun (Bernama) -- Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) telah menutup satu daripada empat kertas siasatan yang dibuka berhubung kes klip video V.K.Lingam.
Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz berkata ini kerana tiada keterangan mencukupi untuk membuktikan pertuduhan mengikut Seksyen 11(c) Akta Pencegahan Rasuah 1997.
"Lanjutan daripada cadangan-cadangan yang dibuat Suruhanjaya Diraja berkenaan pita rakaman V.K.Lingam, empat kertas siasatan dibuka oleh Badan Pencegah Rasuah (kini dikenali sebagai SPRM).
"Tiga daripada kertas siasatan itu telah dirujuk kepada Jabatan Peguam Negara," katanya dalam jawapan bertulis kepada Karpal Singh (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) pada persidangan Dewan Rakyat di sini, hari ini.
Karpal dalam soalannya ingin tahu mengapa tiada sebarang tindakan susulan diambil terhadap mana-mana individu berikutan cadangan yang dibuat Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja mengenai klip video V.K Lingam.
Mohamed Nazri berkata tiada tindakan lanjut diambil dalam dua daripada kertas siasatan yang dirujuk itu memandangkan tiada keterangan yang menunjukkan bahawa terdapat sebarang kesalahan jenayah telah dilakukan.
Manakala satu lagi kertas siasatan belum lengkap kerana seorang saksi penting belum dapat dikesan, katanya.
Selain itu, beliau berkata tiada sesiapa dapat dikenalpasti melakukan kesalahan semasa pengendalian dokumen terperingkat dalam pertimbangan lantikan Hakim-Hakim Mahkamah Tinggi.
Panel lima anggota suruhanjaya mendapati klip video yang menunjukkan peguam Datuk V.K.Lingam sedang berbual di telefon dengan bekas ketua hakim negara Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim mengenai pelantikan hakim, adalah tulen.
Suruhanjaya itu memperakukan agar tindakan sewajarnya dikenakan terhadap enam individu -- Lingam, Ahmad Fairuz, jutawan Tan Sri Vincent Tan, setiausaha agung Umno Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dan seorang lagi bekas ketua hakim negara Tun Mohd Eusoff Chin -- kerana salah laku.
Suruhanjaya itu mendapati terdapat bukti mencukupi untuk menyiasat enam individu berkenaan bagi kesalahan itu mengikut Akta Hasutan, Akta Rahsia Rasmi dan Kanun Keseksaan serta Akta Profesion Undang-undang 1976.
-- BERNAMA
"IN KIND" GIFTS ARE NOT MONEY POLITICS IN UMNO
sponsoring overseas trips, promise of certain favours and projects? You tell me. It
seems that in UMNO, the only aspect to be monitored during the divisional meetings which
will be held from tomorrow until Nov 9 2008 is the giving out "duit raya" during Hari raya open
house. Other than that they are permissible. Or should Anti Corruption Agency (ACA / BPR)
called in to help in the monitoring since UMNO has taken such a simplistic view of "money
politics". Related guidelines by ACA [here].
Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen IsmailDisciplinary board warns members against money politics
sun2surf / Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 8, 2008) : The Umno Disciplinary Board will assign a team of monitors to check that the divisional meetings which will be held from tomorrow until Nov 9 are being conducted according to party ethics.
"The monitoring team will observe all the divisional meetings and they have been carefully selected and need not necessarily be Umno members," said Umno Disciplinary Board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithauddeen Ismail at a press conference, here today.
He said the task of the monitoring team was to inform the Disciplinary Board if there were cases of malpractices by Umno members during the divisional meetings.
He also reminded candidates for party posts to comply with the Umno code of ethics and to refrain from money politics during the election expected to be held in March next year.
"The amendment (to the Code of Ethics on March 27) is important so that money politics can be checked in future. If there is enough evidence, we will not hesitate to take action, including against members who lodge false reports, regardless of their background," he said.
He said those contesting for party posts must follow the rules, "for example, those holding Hari Raya Gatherings must obtain prior approval from the State Umno Liaison Chairmen."
"We can guess what their intention is when they give 'duit raya' only to the delegates but not to the others (who are also at the gathering)," he said.
A total of 191 Umno divisions will hold their delegates meeting beginning tomorrow where they will elect officials at the divisional level and nominate candidates for key posts in the party, especially for the posts of president, deputy president and vice-presidents.
On the number of reports on malpractices and money politics received by the board this year, Tengku Ahmad Rithaudeen said he regretted that the number had increased to 521 complaints. Read More “"IN KIND" GIFTS ARE NOT MONEY POLITICS IN UMNO” »»
GERAK URGES PM ABDULLAH BADAWI RELOOK CBT SENIOR MINISTER
GERAK, the anti-corruption watchdog is moving again after a setback when its chief, Ezam Mohd Noor defected to UMNO to spearhead campaign against DSAI. Indeed GERAK needs a lot of energy and momentum to get it back to move from its inertia. Read Ezam now has got to say about corruption.
Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus, Chairman of GerakNasaruddin, Deputy Chairman of Gerak
Malaysia launches National Campaign Against
Corruption.
Gerak: PM, ACA must investigate minister for CBT
Tim Leonard
Sun2surf
PETALING JAYA: Gerak Malaysia, an anti-corruption watchdog, today urged Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to re-look into a criminal breach of trust case involving a senior cabinet minister.
Gerak’s new chairman Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus, who succeeded former Parti Keadilan Rakyat youth chief Ezam Mohd Noor, said he was disappointed with Abdullah and ACA's muted response to the case as Gerak had submited a 632-page dossier containing "evidence" to the PM on July 29 last year.
The dossier, which took Gerak six months to compile, contained evidence in the form of receipts and invoices amounting to millions of ringgit and two copies of a police report lodged by the CEO of a diversified, public-listed company against the minister.
"It's more than a year now, but nothing has happened,” said Mohd Nazree, after launching a nationwide anti-corruption campaign organised by Gerak, which has over 1,000 members.
As part of its campaign, it will distribute tool kits and stickers to be placed at strategic areas for public awareness.
"We feel very disappointed because the evidence given was from primary sources," he said.
"The PM has made his intentions clear that he wants to fight graft. So he must look into this case," he added.
Ezam, who was first responsible for forwarding the dossier to the Prime Minister, however, did not give a copy to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) citing problems with the then-ACA chief.
Mohd Nazree, however, has urged the ACA to commence an investigation into the case.
Since its inception in 2005, Gerak has submitted evidence on at least seven cases to the ACA. The cases involve a bank, a port, a political party and several politicans and individuals.
Meanwhile, Ezam, when contacted by theSun today, said he leaves the matter involving the minister to Gerak.
“It's their prerogative now to bring up the case,” said Ezam.
“Whilst I am confident of the Prime Minister’s efforts to fight graft, I will only do things the Umno way as I am now in Umno," he added. Read More “GERAK URGES PM ABDULLAH BADAWI RELOOK CBT SENIOR MINISTER” »»
MRR2 AND ITS PROBLEMS REVISITED
The Middle Ring Road 2 has on paper consumed RM308.8 Millions of Rakyat's money. Everyone responsible should be called upon to give their testimonies and evidence in the court of law irrespective of whether or not lives have been lost in the latest "act of God" as some one claimed a few years ago when cracked appeared in all the pillars except one. Call that some one as well as his Department's top brass.
ACA to reopen files on MRR2 over graft claims
©New Straits Times
by Deborah Loh and R.S. Kamini
• Samy Vellu: No comments
• 'Department told not to use carbon straps'
PUTRAJAYA: The Anti-Corruption Agency will reopen its files on previous allegations of corruption in the construction of the Middle Ring Road 2.
It is also planning to question the contractors involved in building the RM238.8 million highway (Package 11) which has so far incurred an additional RM70 million in repairs.
ACA sources said the agency would relook previous investigation papers in determining whether charges could be pressed this time around.
In the latest incident on Sunday, parts of the nine-year-old MRR2 had to be closed for repairs over a three-week period after pieces of concrete fell from its pillars.
The flyover and road below it were closed from 10.30am to 5pm on Sunday after cracks appeared on Pillar 28 after three of the 18 carbon fibre straps on the pillar peeled off and some clumps of concrete fell on the road and several cars.
Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed later ordered the closure of two of the six lanes on the left of the flyover for its team of consultants to study the damage.
In February 2006, the ACA received a report lodged by the Indian Progressive Front (IPF) party on problems involving the MRR2.
The MRR2 had been closed twice before this: on Aug 9, 2004, after cracks were found on 31 of its 33 pillars as a result of improper anchoring of the cross-beams and in February 2006 when it was closed for safety reasons.
In the interim period, independent consultant, Halcrow Consultants Ltd from the United Kingdom, conducted studies.
The affected stretch was partially reopened in November 2004 to light vehicles before the eventual closure.
More repairs were conducted and the highway was reopened in December 2006.
Meanwhile, Public Works deputy director-general 1 Datuk Mohamad Husin, when contacted, said the MRR2 task force would study the incident closely.
"We will be following up on the issue closely including looking at reports submitted by Halcrow," he said.
He said German consultants, Leonhardt, Andra and Partner will continue to remain the official consultant.
"It was a collective decision by the government (to use carbon fibre straps) but the task force will study the damage while our engineering forensic experts will investigate the cause of the cracks."
On the cost of repairs, Mohamad said it would not be a problem as it would be borne by the contractors -- Sukmin Sdn Bhd, Konsortium Kontraktor Melayu and Bumi Hiway Sdn Bhd.
Samy Vellu: No comments
KUALA LUMPUR: The man who promised last year that the Middle Ring Road 2 would be "safer than ever" does not want to be drawn into Sunday's near-catastrophic incident when chunks of concrete fell on cars.
Former works minister Datuk Seri Samy Vellu said he was leaving the matter to Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed as he was no longer the minister.
"I am an ordinary person. No comment. It is unfair for me to make any comments as there is already a minister.
"Only the minister should be able to say what should be done. He has already gone to the site. He made a statement and I have read it," he said when reporters asked him to comment on the matter.
He said he would only answer questions from a Government-appointed panel of inquiry on the matter.
"There are many things in my head. I will only answer if there is an inquiry from within," he told journalists.
He had been asked about a suggestion that an independent panel of inquiry be set up to investigate the cracks that had developed on the MRR2.
"I won't say anything about it. That is the desire of the public. Let the government do what it likes. I have no comments on it," he said.
A day before the MRR2 was reopened last year to traffic, Samy Vellu had said that the road had a safety standard of 1.7 which was higher than the 1.5 British Standard benchmark.
On Sunday parts of the MRR2 had to be closed for repairs for three weeks after pieces of concrete fell from its pillars.
Mohd Zin later ordered the closure of two of the six lanes on the left of the flyover for its team of consultants to study the damage.
Earlier, the MIC chief announced that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi would open the party's Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology in Semeling, Kedah, on Aug 17.
He said the RM500 million AIMST would hold its first convocation in October this year with about 300 medical and bio-technology graduands.
'Department told not to use carbon straps'
KUALA LUMPUR: The carbon fibre reinforced plastic straps supposed to strengthen the pillars beneath the Middle Ring Road 2 gave way on Sunday because of their limited ability to undergo change without breaking.
Halcrow's senior consultant (bridge engineering) Roger Buckby said the company advised the Public Works Department in 2005 not to use such carbon fibre straps because of the problem of ductility.
"We advised them not to use carbon fibre straps because of its limited ductility (but the department proceeded with using the carbon fibre straps)," he said when commenting on how three of the 18 carbon fibre straps on one of the 33 pillars on the MRR2 could have peeled off on Sunday.
He said cracks found on 31 of the 33 pillars of the flyover in 2004 were initially caused by a design flaw and poor reinforcement detailing.
The primary cause, however, was the delayed ettringite formation (DEF) which caused Halcrow to recommend that carbon fibre straps should not be used for strengthening the pier heads.
DEF is believed to be a result of improper heat curing of the concrete to strengthen a structure.
Halcrow was called to conduct a study on cracks on the MRR2 in 2004.
ANTI CORRUPTION AGENCY IS BUSY
Robert P,hang (left) and ACA DG (right) surrounded byreporters at ACA HQ Putrajaya today.
"As a result of the checks, many started hurling allegations against committee members" - TAN SRI MUSA HASSANWith the current hives of activity amongst ACA personnel, to ask for more allocation and manpower from JPA is a reasonable thing to do. There is no news about the promised changes and process reengineering in the ACA mentioned by YAB PM.
In another development, IGP claimed that allegations about malpractice in the Logistic Dept started when the Police uncovered attempts to cheat the Dept by unscrupulous suppliers.
ACA probes police procurement malpractice involving millions of ringgit
Husna Yusop
SUN2SURF
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
PUTRAJAYA (July 30, 2008) : The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has started investigations into allegations of malpractice in the police procurement involving about RM198 million, involving the purchase of dogs, equipment, vehicles and uniforms.
ACA deputy director-general Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed said agency officers had been sent to the Bukit Aman federal police headquarters to look for documents to determine whether there were elements of corruption in the police procurement.
"We will get all the related documents first, then we will discuss it and study the evidence. We will look at the implications, whether there were possible offences related to procedures, non-compliance of the laws or criminal offences like making false claims or others," he told reporters who asked whether any arrests were expected soon.
"We will look at it. If there is a strong case, we will carry on with the investigations," Abu Kassim said in the ACA headquarters here today after a meeting with Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) executive council member Tan Sri Robert Phang.
Phang today submitted an eight-page document to the ACA involving an allegation of malpractice in a RM98 million procurement for the police force involving six high-ranking officers.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan was meanwhile reported to have also started an internal probe into malpractice in the police logistics department involving more than RM100 million, and that at least 12 officers and men, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police, have been transferred.`
Yesterday, Phang disclosed he had received documents on July 23 from an unidentified whistleblower alleging that the federal police logistics department failed to comply with standard operating procedures (SOP) when conducting procurement during the 12th general election.
Phang said the documents implicated six officers, including a "very senior police officer".
On Phang’s documents, Abu Kassim said the ACA will act if there were elements and evidence "for us to do so".
"We take this matter seriously. There are some information which we can get clarification from the parties (identified in the documents)," he added.
He said the ACA had been communicating with the police on the matter on several occasions before, and the police had also submitted several reports to the agency.
"The IGP has also contacted us to look at cases related to administration and logistics. So, the police do refer to ACA if they need to do so. And, there are certain things related to this which we are investigating now," he added.
When contacted, Phang said the documents that he handed over to Abu Kassim contained some new information that implicated at least six officers.
"I believe the ACA have gone to Bukit Aman at 8am today and seized some documents which were different from what I received. The documents have complemented what the ACA needed because more culprits were identified," he added.
Police investigating RM100mil logistics fraud bid
By LOURDES CHARLES
Staronline
KUALA LUMPUR: The federal police logistics department has uncovered attempts by unscrupulous suppliers to cheat it in the supply of equipment worth more than RM100mil.
It is learnt that Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has set up a committee to investigate, and ordered the immediate transfer of at least 12 officers and men, including an Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Also transferred and under investigation are several civilian staff in the finance department.
“We have reported the matter to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and ACA officers have met our officers, questioned them, and taken away several documents,” he added.
“We have started an internal investigation as we believe we can save the Government hundreds of millions of ringgit by preventing suppliers from providing us with sub-standard products.”
Musa said he believed certain quarters with vested interest had been accepting the goods ordered without conducting proper pre-delivery checks.
The IGP said the committee in the logistics department headed by its director, Commissioner Datuk Mahsuri Zainal, had been scrutinising every single order and found several discrepancies.
Among the equipment or goods rejected recently were boots for the elite SWAT unit, machetes (parangs) for the General Operations Force, evacuation packs for officers and men serving in Timor Leste, beds, road-block signages and cones.
“As a result of the stringent checks, many started writing and hurling allegations and accusations against the members of the committee,” Musa added.
“They are not happy with the stringent procedures now in place as they were used to having it their way, with no questions asked.”
In a related incident, a whistle-blower has alleged that six high-ranking officers from the logistics department had committed malpractices when making purchases worth RM98mil earlier this year.
The whistle-blower detailed at least six instances during the pre-election and election season where the officers were said to have bypassed standard operating procedure when making purchases.
The person made the allegation in a letter to Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation executive council member Tan Sri Robert Phang on July 23.
In the same envelope, the whistle-blower included four copies of the same letter. The person requested Phang to make sure the letters reached Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, Internal Security Ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan. Read More “ANTI CORRUPTION AGENCY IS BUSY” »»
OSA REMAINS INTACT
The "Official Secret Act" will not be amended or abolished, according to the Minister in the Prime Minister Department.
The Official Secrets Act 1972 (Act 88), also known as the OSA, is a statute in Malaysia prohibiting the dissemination of information classified as an official secret. The legislation is based on the Official Secrets Act of the United Kingdom. After criticism of the act for lacking clarity, it was amended in 1986.[1]
Provisions
The act defines an "official secret" as:
| “ | ...any document specified in the Schedule and any information and material relating thereto and includes any other official document, information and material as may be classified as 'Top Secret', 'Secret', 'Confidential' or 'Restricted', as the case may be, by a Minister, the Menteri Besar or Chief Minister of a State or such public officer [as may be authorised to classify such documents by a Minister, Menteri Besar or Chief Minister]. | ” |
The Schedule to the Act covers "Cabinet documents, records of decisions and deliberations including those of Cabinet committees", as well as similar documents for state executive councils. It also includes "documents concerning national security, defence and international relations".
Malaysia's Official Secrets Act is a broadly-worded law which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, as well as significant lesser penalties for the actions associated with the wrongful collection, possession or communication of official information. Any public officer can declare any material an official secret -- a certification which cannot be questioned in court . The act allows for arrest and detention without a warrant, and substantially reverses the burden of proof. It states that "until the contrary is proven," any of the activities proscribed under the act will be presumed to have been undertaken "for a purpose prejudicial to the safety or interests of Malaysia." It is not necessary for the authorities to show that the accused person was guilty of a particular act, and states that even if no act is proved, the accused person may still be convicted on the basis of "the circumstances of the case, his conduct or his known character...".Govt won’t amend OSA, says Nazri
by Kevin Tan
The Edge
KUALA LUMPUR: The government has no intention of amending the Official Secrets Act (OSA) as the Cabinet can declassify any document at any time, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said.
He was replying to a supplementary question from Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Kota Raja-PAS) who asked whether the government intended to draft a freedom of information act to protect whistleblowers and complement the government’s effort to fight corruption.
Without answering whether the government would introduce such a law, he said the Cabinet could meet to declassify any matter from the OSA.
Nazri earlier told parliament that the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) had brought 544 charges against government officials for various offences between 2003 and 2007.
“These involved 436 cases under the Corruption Prevention Act 1997, 67 cases under the Penal Code and other legislations as well as one under the Anti-Money Laundering Act,” he said.
The minister said the ACA would shift its emphasis from enforcement and punitive actions to a focus on internal control by encouraging government departments to work with the agency in various programmes to prevent corruption, misappropriation and the abuse of power.
“This will be implemented through the formation of a Joint Committee to Prevent Corruption, which is an extension of the existing efforts implemented through the Committee for Integrity in Management (CIM),” he added.
The joint committee was linked directly with critical and high-risk agencies, Nazri said. “By focusing on critical agencies, it will have a bigger impact on the effectiveness of corruption prevention efforts in this country.”
Nazri said the ACA would step up its cooperation with the National Audit Department to ensure early action in dealing with government agencies deemed more prone to corruption, abuse of power and impropriety.
The ACA would also pay more attention to “intelligence-based investigation”, particularly those involving syndicated corruption, the minister said. “It will involve the use of intelligence in corruption cases to increase the investigative capability against government departments,” he said.
To a question from Lim Kit Siang (Ipoh Timur-DAP) on whether the government actually had the “political will” to fight corruption considering Malaysia was ranked 43rd on Transparency International’s index, Nazri said the matter was part of Barisan Nasional’s manifesto since 2004.
He said corruption would be difficult to eradicate in a short time and urged the opposition to work alongside the government to stem the practice.
In a press release later, Sivarasa Rasiah (Subang-PKR) said the government must have the “political will” to prevent corruption by drafting a freedom of information act and protect whistleblowers.
“If not, the government under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is only making empty promises,” he added.
According to Sivarasa, the government had never declassified any confidential documents of public interests such as the toll concession agreements. “Instead, it is the Selangor state government under Pakatan Rakyat that started to declassify confidential documents as an early measure to improve transparency and governance,” he said.
The PKR vice-president said he had proposed a motion for a freedom of information legislation to be debated in parliament that had been excluded from the current sitting.
Sivarasa’s view was backed by Mohamed Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR), who highlighted that freedom of information act had been introduced in 55 countries, including Zimbabwe. “The countries that are still behind are Malaysia and possibly Mongolia,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address yesterday.
Azmin said India had abolished its OSA and enacted a right to information act that allowed every Indian citizen to obtain any information, record or document within 30 days.
On corporate governance, he questioned Malayan Banking Bhd’s (Maybank) purchase of a 100% stake in Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) at the price of RM8.6 billion.
“The acquisition process has been criticised by the financial community as it did not comply with corporate governance standards.
“Maybank paid 4.65 times the book value (of BII) and set a new benchmark for (the purchase of) a bank in Indonesia,” Azmin said, adding that the highest price paid for a bank in Indonesia was about 2.5 times book value
Read More “OSA REMAINS INTACT” »»
