MACC advisor explains himself over Taib Mahmud

Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisor Robert Phang, 71, disclosed this afternoon that the “alleged corruption” case of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud, if any, has never been raised during the MACC committee meetings he has attended so far.Hence, he is “completely in the dark” about any so-called MACC investigations against Taib.“I don't want to comment on something that I don't know anything about,” said Phang . “It's unfair to say that I have been shooting off on Sabah while remaining silent on Sarawak.”


The MACC advisor was responding to pubic criticisms against him in the wake of his comments in an article on Sabah.The Sabahkini editor, Mutalib MD, had also complained in an email to Malaysiakini that Phang had implied that some people were “above the law”, that the MACC could not be “trusted”, and also concluded that he (Phang) was dreaming (on the ICAC case from Sabah)”. However, he agreed with Phang's view on the ICAC case. Sabah, continued Phang, is a different matter from Sarawak “as far as he was concerned”.

Besides spending some 30 years in Sabah at one time, he added, he has also kept in touch with events there and takes a deep interest in the state. He makes no apologies for stating his piece on Sabah and points out that “inaccurate reporting” on any corruption case would jeopardise investigations. Corruption cases are criminal in nature and should not be politicised, said Phang, if we want to see justice done. “I know something of the procedures in law,” he said.

Asked if he knew whether MACC was investigating Taib and the progress made so far if any, he stressed that he doesn't want to say anything on the Sarawak Chief Minister's case file, if any, with MACC, based on “hearsay”. “I really don't want to say anything on something about which I have no knowledge,” said Phang. “Besides, it's not proper to jeopardise investigations, if any.”

Otherwise, he is unafraid to speak up on issues that affect the Malaysian public, especially if they involve corruption and malpractices. His current preoccupation, he concedes, is more on transparency over the probe into the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. He sees PKFZ as booby-trapped with many landmines as “the case involves many in high places”.

“I am a strong believer that when something is black, you cannot expect people to accept it as white,” he said. “PKFZ has opened grey areas. Billions are missing and all efforts must be made to recover it back. I expect the government to do the right thing.”Besides the Social Care Foundation which he heads and being MACC advisor, Phang is also a national exco member of the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation.

Source : http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/145780