Is New Straits Times The Latest ''Enemy Of The State"?

A friend smsed me this at 7:30 am this morning (Sunday). He was very surprised that a pro gomen  'wet wipe' like the NST would dare run an Editorial piece like this.  I was surprised too. Lets read what they have written:

http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/175635/corruption-endemic-here

Is corruption endemic here? 

24 SEPTEMBER 2016 

GRADUALLY, it has become obvious that corruption is not a rare occurrence in this country. 

Gadually? You think so? So is the NST finally beginning to pull its head out from that Hippo's behind? 

Instead, it is as if a momentum has been achieved, and what was once talk, hearsay or gossip is now being proven true.  At every level of the government bureaucracy, there have been cases of abuse of power, embezzlement, bribery and kickbacks. 

 At every level of the government  - So this must include the Prime Minister's Office or the PMO. The PMO is the highest level of gomen. Spot on NST.  

The recent uncovering of the cloned cars racket led to the arrest of several (RTD) officers. Unfortunately, more than the racket was uncovered. Some officers were found to have been on the take. 

'on the take' - it sounds so innocent. They are corrupted crooks who are destroying peoples' lives. Why? Because it is the Road Transport Department.

Meanwhile, the (DBKL) is revising standard operating procedures to ensure transparency, and officers of four of its departments have been told to declare their assets.

Only FOUR? Are these the Tengku Mamak's boys who are now being witch hunted? Err..what about the rest of the DBKL's officers?

The RTD and DBKL are but two of the latest in a series of disclosures made by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), beginning with those affecting the timber industry some two years ago. 

Ever since, the Customs Department’s image has been severely tarnished, so too that of the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Immigration Department and the Sports Council. 

I beg to differ lah. Their images have already been tarnished from long before. They do not need any help from outside to tarnish their names. They are very capable of tarnishing their own image.

The MACC was sent to the Cameron Highlands Land Office to look into the illegal land opening and faced an office that was far from cooperative. It sniffed around the bauxite mining in Kuantan, which was poisoning the environment. 

Recently, it investigated the Penang chief minister and brought charges against him. 

There is also the two Bank Rakyat bosses arrested over a RM15 million book publishing contract and an upgrading project. 

The most recent is a “Datuk Seri”, a high-ranking official in Tourism Malaysia, who is being investigated for abuse of power. Amounts involved varied from millions of ringgit at the top, to several hundred ringgit per take at the bottom. 

The Tourism Malaysia corruption is said to involve RM200 million. This is an annual affair at the Tourism Ministry.  The Ministry spends hundreds of millions EVERY year to advertise / promote Malaysia tourism.  There is serious corruption over who gets these huge advertising jobs. This corruption has been going on for over 10 years.  At last some action is being taken.  Takpe lah - better late than never. Err .. what about next year?

Is it any wonder then that Malaysia’s ranking on Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index has never made dramatic improvements? With all these disclosures, the country’s ranking can only tank further. 

Yes certainly it is tanking. And now with the Minister confirming that the MO1 involved with "stolen money from 1MDB" that was alluded to by the United State's DOJ is none other than MO1,  our ranking in next year's Corruption Index is going to hit the bottom. Just wait and see. Unless of course that old turd (that ex "transparent" chief in Malaysia) starts pulling strings and cables to his old friends. 

Of course, when looking for a silver lining one can say that the MACC is doing its job well. And, if the country wants better, the MACC must be, figuratively speaking, armed to the teeth. However, a system of checks and balances must be in place to prevent abuse on its part. Who polices the MACC is a pertinent concern. 

Bodies such as the MACC and the Royal Malaysia Police must have the powers they need to maintain the rule of law effectively and yet public accountability is of paramount importance.   

Alamak the bullshit starts. What about 'preventing' the MACC from doing its job? They investigated the SRC and 1MDB cases and recommended for prosecution. Instead MACC officers were bullied and transferred out. Then transferred back in. What do you do when the MACC suffers 'abuse of power' by others more corrupt than anyone else?

What about abuse of power against the AG's Chambers? You know, the AG who wanted to prosecute MO1 was fired.   

Some oversight body is needed to curb abuses within what must potentially be very powerful bodies. 

Political will is the only recourse if the MACC — so too the police force — is to be both powerful and accountable.

Yes this is the damning closing sentence. The MACC, Police, AGC are not political outfits. They are part of the government machinery. 

When the NST says "Political will" it can only mean the leadership,  the Prime Minister's Office.  Yes it is the political will that is corrupted.    Maybe this also means a turning point for the NST.  To acknowledge in an Editorial that corruption is endemic in the country and that the root cause of this corruption is the corrupted 'political will'.

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/09/175635/corruption-endemic-here