Teoh Beng Hock's death: AG 'highly irresponsible'

Attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail's refusal to comment on investigations into the alleged involvement of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers in the death of a political aide is "highly irresponsible", says an opposition MP.

"The AG should tell us whether the MACC officers implicated by the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Teoh Beng Hock's death will be prosecuted or not," DAP's Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo said in a statement.

The AG, Gobind said, "is clearly playing the fool" as his stance that he 'only charges' and does 'not investigate' does not make any sense at all.

"What kind of AG prosecutes only, without control over investigations?" asked Gobind.

He also questioned the AG's claim that his office was not involved in the investigations despite officers from the chambers being present and actively involved in both the inquest into Teoh's death and the RCI.

Gobind was referring to Gani's abbreviated reply to reporters yesterday when he was asked about the investigations.

"I am not an investigator, I don't look at investigations. I only look at charges," Gani said in reply to questions and said he would not argue further on the matter.

Approached as he left a meeting with de facto Law Minister Nazri Aziz and MACC top brass at the minister's office in Parliament House, Gani was asked to reply to a statement by Nazri that the MACC officers had been cleared of any wrongdoing in Teoh's death.

In a written reply to Parliament, Nazri had said that the trio were cleared by the Attorney-General's Chambers.

Pressed further, Gani would only say that the matter had been "referred back to the MACC" and left hurriedly.

Gobind is also puzzled why the matter "is referred back to the MACC" when it was the anti-corruption body's conduct that had been investigated.

"Isn't this plain ridiculous? There is a conflict (of interest)," he concluded.

 

 

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/194297

Phang: Nazri's comments on MACC below the belt

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz has been described as being a bully for branding Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy commissioner Mohd Shukri Abdull as weak.

Describing Nazri’s comments as “hitting below the belt”, former MACC adviser Robert Phang said the anti graft body is supposed to be independent.

“Do not hit below the belt of the officers as they do not have the recourse to rebut. Stop being a bully. Shukri is ‘strong and brave’ to expose attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail’s reluctance to prosecute the many MACC cases it investigated, including those involving holders of high public office. Shukri should not be discouraged or intimidated by Nazri’s bullying ways,” he said.

Instead, Phang said in a statement, Shukri must not be disheartened, and ask the MACC to investigate Nazri’s assets to determine whether his income can support his and his son’s lavish lifestyle.

On Sunday, Nazri was quoted in the Chinese papers as describing Shukri as having a weak character who should stop complaining about cases being rejected by the AG’s Chambers.

Nazri, are you protecting the A-G because he didn't prosecute your son

Below is my article posted in Malaysia-Chronicle.com and comments from readers.
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Minister in Prime Minister's Department Nazri Aziz has no business to interfere in MACC’s investigations. Do not hit below the belt of the officers as they do not have the recourse to rebut you – STOP BEING A BULLY.

The de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has no business interfering in Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s investigations. Nazri is just a parliamentarian and a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Parliament’s administration and also to coordinate parliamentary affairs.

His job is to kick the butts in Parliament, not use political powers to bully MACC officials who have the courage to fight corruption. Nazri has no standing to tell MACC deputy chief Shukri Abdull how to run or manage anti-corruption cases and to belittle him as “weak”.

Is not MACC supposed to be independent?

Has Nazri forgotten that the MACC is, supposedly, independent? In fact, Shukri is “strong and brave” to expose Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Gani Patail’s reluctance to prosecute the many MACC cases it investigated against those who hold high public office. Shukri should not be discouraged or intimidated by Nazri’s bullying ways. He should, instead, start investigating Nazri’s assets to determine whether his income can support his and his son’s lavish lifestyle.

Why is Nazri defending the attorney-general and attacking the MACC? Both are supposed to be independent. Well, if Shukri is weak, then the AG is most definitely lame if he requires Nazri to defend him.

Disgusting and disgraceful 

This is again a classic example of interference by the executive in the affairs of the MACC. The attorney-general has been cited for corruption and breach of ethics umpteenth times and no one has dared act on him. How powerful can the AG be?

Nazri explained that corruption charges would cause great shame to the accused and therefore the A-G’s Chambers must act diligently, and charge the accused in court only if there is concrete evidence. Just like they did to ex-CCID (Commercial Crimes Investigation Department) chief Ramli Yusuff and his men?

Nazri’s attitude disgraces the Prime Minister’s office by using threats against senior civil servants who have the courage to act, especially against graft by those who hold high public office.

Nazri is also defending the alleged collusion between former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan and a serving A-G to victimise police officers and the apparent influence of an underworld figure in the promotions of police officers. It is definitely not Nazri’s business to chastise Shukri for lamenting that the A-G’s chambers had refused to charge graft suspects investigated by the commission.

Why is Nazri defending the A-G?

Malaysians are now asking whether Nazri is protecting the A-G’s chambers just because the A-G is under his portfolio or is it because of other reasons? 'Is Nazri protecting the attorney-general because the AG is under his portfolio, or is it because of other reasons?'

Why is Nazri defending the A-G and attacking the MACC? Both are supposed to be independent and is another classic example of interference by the executive into the affairs of the MACC.

The A-G has been cited for corruption and breach of ethics umpteenth times but no one has dared act on him. How powerful can the A-G be? The MACC should seize the opportunity to show Nazri’s its muscles by revealing all the high-profile cases referred to the A-G but not prosecuted.

NAZRI – STOP BELITTLING AND INSULTING THE PROFESSIONALISM AND TRANSPARENCY PRACTISED BY THE MACC OFFICIALS.

PRESS STATEMENT BY:-
TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG MIOW SIN
Justice of Peace
Chairman – Social Care Foundation
04th April 2012 

Nazri has no business to interfere in MACC’s investigations. Do not hit below the belt of the officers as they do not have the recourse to rebut you – STOP BEING A BULLY.

The de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz has no business interfering in Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)’s investigations. Nazri is just a parliamentarian and a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of Parliament’s administration and also to coordinate parliamentary affairs.

His job is to kick the butts in Parliament, not use political powers to bully MACC officials who have the courage to fight corruption. Nazri has no standing to tell MACC deputy chief Shukri Abdull how to run or manage anti-corruption cases and to belittle him as “weak”.

Has Nazri forgotten that the MACC is, supposedly, independent? In fact, Shukri is “strong and brave” to expose Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Gani Patail’s reluctance to prosecute the many MACC cases it investigated against those who hold high public office. Shukri should not be discouraged or intimidated by Nazri’s bullying ways. He should, instead, start investigating Nazri’s assets to determine whether his income can support his and his son’s lavish lifestyle.

BN ministers blocked limiting AG's powers

COMMENT The deputy chief commissioner (operations) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Mohd Shukri Abdul, admitted at a public forum recently that the MACC is rendered helpless when the attorney-general does not want to charge someone with graft even if the MACC investigation produces adequate evidence.

This is not a new revelation. It has been a common complaint over the years from the enforcement agencies, whether the police, the Securities Commission, Immigration, Customs or the MACC. These agencies can only investigate and recommend, but the decision to prosecute ultimately depends on the attorney-general.

This is the most scandalous, preposterous and ridiculous state of affairs in our country. It sickens me how we have allowed such a blatant abuse of power by the Barisan Nasional government to go unchecked.

All these enforcement agencies are adequately staffed by senior lawyers and experienced investigating officers. They have all the facilities required to conduct proper investigations. So why can’t we allow these agencies the power to decide the final question, which is whether the culprit should be prosecuted or not?

Underworld figure's hand in cop transfers, promotions

EXCLUSIVE Could underworld figures have influence over the promotion and transfer of police personnel when the force was under the leadership of inspector-general of police Musa Hassan?

In another bizarre twist to the ‘Copgate' scandal, new allegations that another shadowy figure identified as BK Tan - who was suspected to have links with Johor underworld figure Tengku Goh - had advised Musa on several occasions relating to the promotion and transfer of senior police officers.

Musa (far right), along with attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail and the then Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA), were earlier alleged to have framed rival top cop, former Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Ramli Yusuff, and six of his men. The seven police officers were arrested and charged in court five years ago.

In the latest allegation, sources told Malaysiakini that Musa would call Tan for "advice" and at times the latter visited Musa's house in Petaling Jaya for discussions on key appointments and transfers in the police force.

According to the sources, Musa when asked had explained that Tan's participation came with the blessings of the then Internal Security Ministry because his underworld links would help identify the "good" from "bad" cops.