Let’s have a Tan Sri vs Tan Sri public debate on MACC’s integrity

The overwhelming flak against Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Corruption Prevention Panel chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam by internet news portal readers is clear indication of the public’s lack of confidence in MACC’s integrity.Ramon was chastised by the public following his spat with panel adviser Tan Sri Robert Phang over the former’s lightning speed attempt to clear Attorney-General (AG) Abdul Gani Patail of allegations that the AG went on a Haj pilgrimage in Mecca with one Shahidan Shafie who is said to be close to former Malaysia Airlines chairman Tajuddin Ramli.


Questions are being raised against Tajuddin over the national carrier’s losses, running into billions of ringgit. MAS was reported to have filed several reports against Tajuddin with the MACC, citing Tajuddin’s move to relocate MAS’ cargo operations in Amsterdam and Frankfurt to a single hub in Hahn, Germany, as the single biggest loss suffered under him.The new hub operation reportedly incurred monthly losses of between RM10 million and RM16 million before it was terminated and the government took over control of MAS. It’s an important issue because the AG is the one who determines whether a case should be prosecuted or not.

Ramon and MACC must be praying hard, hoping that the issue is quickly forgotten by the public. The issue is clearly too important to be forgotten because it not only concerns the intergrity of the MACC, but also the AG.Obviously, the public perception is that the MACC is trying to cover up for the AG. Since the spat involves two MACC panel members who have complete opposite views – Ramon says the panel was satisfied with the AG’s explanation, Phang disputes it – there must be transparency in exposing the truth of the matter.It is said that the AG presented some documents at the dialogue on Tuesday (Jan 4) in the MACC academy with 30 (of the 42) members of the MACC board and panel members. It is just amazing how Ramon could claim that the panel was satisfied with the A-G’s explanation with just one meeting, without a probe.

Can you blame Malaysians for condemning Ramon? Malaysians smell a rat involving a top level civil servant. The current public perception is that Phang seems to have more integrity than Ramon. So, let’s up the ante by challenging both the Tan Sri to set up a public debate on the issue.This will ensure that all the information on the issue is made public so that the integrity of the MACC is salvaged. If both the Tan Sris do not respond positively to the challenge, then we can deduce the sincerity of the two in the fight against graft. So, will it be Tan Sri Ramon or Tan Sri Robert Phang? Or both, or none?

Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/2011/01/11/let%e2%80%99s-have-a-tan-sri-vs-tan-sri-public-debate-on-macc%e2%80%99s-integrity/