An Anti-corruption Advocate, the Voice of Conscience
28 Feb 2022
15 Feb 2022
‘Fight corruption not whistleblowers'
Going after those who try to expose wrongdoings will dampen public confidence in MACC, says social activist
Phang said going after whistleblowers may discourage the public from exposing wrongdoings.
“This will only lead down one path: more corruption. Suing someone who has exposed some wrongdoing is not the right way to go about it.
“MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki should not have filed a defamation suit against anti-graft activist Lalitha Kunaratnam.
“Instead he should have come out immediately to explain what had occurred,” Phang told theSun.
He wondered how the public could place their faith in the anti-graft body when its head failed to satisfactorily explain the share transaction (issue) but filed a legal suit instead.
Phang said we need to have our faith in MACC restored and the only way to do so is for Azam to go on garden leave while an independent body conducts an investigation into the issue.
He said we also need to go further by placing MACC under the purview of Parliament to allow proper scrutiny of its actions.
Phang, who was a former adviser to the MACC corruption prevention panel, said the fight against corruption is an on-going effort and we cannot have people in charge of MACC suing whistleblowers.
He pointed out that the Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 gives protection to those who expose wrongdoings. “What is the use of the Act if the MACC head can file a defamation suit against a whistleblower?” he asked.
He also questioned the need for senior MACC officers – deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Khusairi Yahaya, deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Norazlan Mohd Razali and deputy chief commissioner (management and professionalism) Datuk Junipah Wandi – to express their support for Azam.
He said instead of going out to fight graft, these officers seem to have a lot of time on hand to do other things.
“We desperately need a change of mindset in the government; action must be taken against officers such as (asking them to) go on garden leave until it can be proven they are innocent.
“If the government continues to turn a blind eye, the public will lose confidence not only in the government but also MACC,” he said.
Azam, who is mired in a proxy stock trading issue, had explained that his share trading account had been used by his younger brother Nasir Baki to purchase shares in 2015.
The explanation was made after it was reported that Azam had significant shareholdings in several companies.
He denied any wrongdoing and said the stocks purchased had subsequently been transferred to Nasir’s account.
Source: https://ipaper.thesundaily.my/epaper/viewer.aspx?publication=The%20Sun%20Daily#page/2
11 Feb 2022
10 Feb 2022
IS AZAM PROVIDING THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP FOR MACC?
10th February 2022.
PRESS STATEMENT BY:-
TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG
MIOW SIN.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.
CHAIRMAN – SOCIAL CARE
FOUNDATION (Co. Reg. 199701007685 (423181-X).
IS AZAM PROVIDING THE RIGHT LEADERSHIP FOR MACC?
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is our main instrument in the fight against corruption and bad governance. For MACC to succeed in its mission it must have the support of the people. It cannot achieve its full potential if it loses public confidence in the man who leads that institution. Leadership with integrity is key to institutional credibility. Quite clearly The Chief Commissioner has lost his credibility in the eyes of the people at large.
What
is the Government’s position on this? The argument that he has broken no law
over his ownership of company shares and in allowing his “adik” to use his
shares account is plausible, on the face
of it. What about the question of his
personal and professional judgment?
A
person in his high profile and sensitive position should have the sense to
exercise great care to avoid creating the wrong perception about his actions.
The public perception is that he was using his brother as a convenient cover
for his own corrupt activities.
There
might have been no basis at all in fact. The negative perception that he has
created has done great damage not only to his personal reputation but also,
even more, serious the very shaky and fragile reputation of MACC itself. Given
that no man is bigger than the institution, the Chief Commissioner must accept
responsibility for bringing MACC into disrepute by his flawed personal and
professional judgment.
In
this respect, something must give. The Chief Commissioner must go so that MACC
may regain its lost public confidence and support. Malaysia has to win the war against rampant
corruption.
We
must therefore not forget that the Golden Rule by Our Almighty God that no one
is mightier than our Divine God – we must be treated fairly, squarely plus
performing our duties/obligations with dignity and integrity, WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR. Therefore Azam Baki must enhance and explain
to the Nation. I repeat, NO ONE IS INDISPENSABLE and be
always guided and governed by our Almighty God.
GOD BLESS OUR NATION.
STAY HOME AND STAY SAFE.
“HUMBLENESS IS A GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL AND THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD”.
Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang
Miow Sin.
Justice of the Peace.
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