JOSE Ugaz, president of Transparency International (TI), was using the platform of the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) for the wrong purpose. While I respect his right to speak up, I feel a smack of sinister motive in his delivery. He was simply disrespectful to the host country.
Don’t get me wrong. I pride myself as one of the crusaders in fighting corruption. I am, after all, chairman of the Consultation and Prevention Panel (better known as PPPR), an independent external oversight panel to monitor the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). On behalf of my 14-member panel, I have made statements without fear or favour in support of the MACC.
But Ugaz was out of line when he addressed the 1,000-strong delegates at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre on Wednesday. He has no business meddling in our internal affairs. He even pre-empted what Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low was about to say about reform, with his remark: “That is not what is needed now. And promises alone will not restore confidence and trust.”
He was clearly playing to the gallery expecting applause and voices of approval from among the largely foreign participants. Ugaz is never known to mince his words. His reputation of taking on the big guys is legendary. He is a graft-buster extraordinaire. I admire his courage. He is in fact exemplary in fighting graft in his country of origin — Peru — and elsewhere.
I must admit I have a lot of agreement with him. Fighting corruption takes courage. In many instances, graft busters have to pay a heavy price. Journalists lost their jobs, even lives, exposing corrupt practices in some countries. I totally support him on his crusade. But coming from a faraway country and getting information from unsubstantiated sources or hearsay and making such remarks is totally uncalled for.
The crescendo of attacks on the government and the prime minister of Malaysia over the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) issue and so, too, the RM2.6 billion donated by a Middle Eastern person is not surprising. And yes, it wasn’t easy for this country and for those involved. We have been asking questions, too. And we want answers. But the underlying issue is that investigations are ongoing. Simply too many things have yet to be verified. We can’t wrong a person until proven.
I can’t speak on behalf of the MACC but the last time I checked, the probe on SRC International is still going on. No stone is left unturned in the investigation. Yes, there have been attempts to derail the investigation. And I have not seen Malaysians so united in anger over the harassment against MACC officers and the transfer of two of its investigators. Whoever was responsible for that must understand they contravened the MACC Act 2009.
But no one is saying the investigation has been called off. One of the first things MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed said when he was discharged from hospital was that the SRC investigation would continue. Low has been reiterating the government’s position on that, too. He has been saying that investigating agencies in Malaysia are free to conduct probes. He repeated that at the IACC.
Low was adamant to address the issue of perception that the MACC is helpless and at the mercy of politicians. It is a tall order for him to reflect a cabinet of integrity under the current atmosphere of distrust and cynicism. But he soldiered on for he has the mandate to push his agenda for reforms. You can’t fault him for trying.
He has shielded the MACC during the worst of times. I wasn’t surprised when he told the delegates that “the MACC is the apple of my eye… If anybody touched the apple of my eye, I will protect it and I will strike back”. He can’t be that audacious without the mandate given by his colleagues in the cabinet, the same one that many have cast aspersions and scorn upon. He was forthright and honest despite being grilled by some participants in the morning session on the first day. He stood his ground.
“You may say this is all political talk. I am not a politician. I do what I promised,” he said at the opening. He made another critical statement that most people may not have taken notice of. Fighting corruption and defending the MAAC rests on civil society, too. It has to be a People’s Movement. He even suggested that if the sanctity of an institution like the MACC is compromised, Malaysians should even take to the streets to protect it.
There were many good things that happened at the conference. The discourse was illuminating. Graft busters the world over made their statement known, loud and clear: corrupt officials beware! I am sure the MACC learned a lot from the conference and is emboldened by the support from the participants. When they leave, the MACC will be there, doing its best, upholding first and last, public interest as pledged by the commissioner to the participants. His officers are ready to make sacrifices to ensure the work is done.
They are not walking alone.
Mr Ugaz, sir, fighting corruption is our business, too! Thanks.
Twitter @Johan_Jaaffar