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Malaysia's opposition tests new anti-graft body
Agence France Presse - January 2, 2009
Kuala Lumpur – Malaysia's opposition Friday lodged a series of graft allegations with the newly formed Anti-Corruption Commission, saying it would be a test of the body's mettle.
"We want to give an opportunity to the Anti-Corruption Commission to show it is different and that there is hope for the people," said Badrul Hisham Shaharin, a senior member of Keadilan that leads the opposition alliance.
The body, created as of Jan. 1, replaces the much-criticized Anti-Corruption Agency, and is being promoted as having more independence and greater accountability.
However, critics say the new commission will also be toothless unless it is given unrestricted power to prosecute corruption cases – currently the responsibility of the government.
"The people are waiting to see if the ACC will act in the interests of the people or if the changes are just cosmetic," Badrul told reporters after lodging three reports with the commission.
"This is a test of the ACC to see if there is real reform and improvement or whether it is just rhetoric to get a bigger budget than the former ACA, but providing the same results in not being able to take action against big fish."
He said the first report involved cases where the ACA had found evidence of misdeeds by prominent figures and submitted them to the Attorney-general's office for prosecution, but no action was ever taken. "Because of a hidden hand the cases were dropped," Badrul said.
He said the second report contained evidence on "money politics" within the ruling party, the United Malays National Organization, and the third alleged corruption among former top officers within the ACA.
The new commission is an initiative of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is trying to burnish his reform credentials before handing over to his deputy Najib Razak next March.
Abdullah was forced to agree to stand down after the government was punished in general elections, partly over his failure to introduce promised reforms including cleaning up the police and the justice system.
The Barisan Nasional coalition, which has dominated Malaysian politics for half a century, lost control of five states and a third of parliamentary seats last March, in its worst-ever electoral performance.
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