Stop Impunity for Kleptocracy and Corruption in Malaysia
Stop Impunity for Kleptocracy and Corruption in Malaysia
Why this petition matters
Please Sign: Stop Impunity for Kleptocracy and Corruption in Malaysia
In June 2020, Sabahans and other Malaysians were left perplexed and stunned as Musa Aman, the former Chief Minister of Sabah, was acquitted and discharged of all 46 charges of corruption and money laundering. This was due to the prosecution applying to withdraw all the 46 charges against Musa. Irrespective of some legal practitioners opined that the Attorney-General (AG) Tan Sri Idrus Harun has executed the acquittal legally; some other professionals viewed the case with much reservation and questionable of the acquittal.
This is a high-profile corruption case involving hundreds of millions of Ringgit and the destruction of the environment.
(Media links: (1) http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/154039/prosecution-drops-all-charges-against-musa-aman-judge-grants-acquittals/
Earlier in July 2019, the graft investigation on former Chief Minister for Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud was not pursued by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) due to “lack of evidence”. (Media Links: (1) https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/macc-15-files-opened-against-taib-mahmud-we-cant-act-against-him
The withdrawal and acquittal of the accused in high profile graft cases since the Perikatan Nasional government came into power while a labourer was sentenced to 15-month jail for stealing petai is disturbing. It has created the perception that the Malaysian society is divided into two classes (dua darjat) and penalty is for ordinary people who cannot steal in billions or millions like VIP do.
(Media Link: https://www.sinarharian.com.my/article/86290/EDISI/Terengganu/Kerana-petai-dipenjara-15-bulan
We fear that this trend of effective impunity will continue - fully or partly, directly or indirectly - in other high-profile cases which are currently in the courts including the infamous corruption cases as follows:
· Najib Razak, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia
(Media Links: (1) https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2020/06/597658/prosecution-we-have-proven-our-case-against-najib;
· Rosmah Mansor, wife of Najib Razak
(Media Link: Rosmah Mansor https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/trial-rosmahs-money-laundering-tax-evasion-case-vacated-give-way-ongoing-corruption-case
· Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the former Deputy Prime Minister
(Media Links: (1) https://themalaysianreserve.com/2020/05/19/ahmad-zahids-trial-to-continue-on-june-15/
(2) https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2020/07/03/company-paid-rm1 mil-to-law-firm-linked-to-zahids-graft-case-court-told/
· Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor , former Minister of Federal Territories and current Member of Parliament for Putrajaya
· Ahmad Mazlan, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Ministry and current Member of Parliament for Pontian, Johor
(Media link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/01/21/ahmad-maslan-pleads-not-guilty-to-money-laundering-charges
· Bung Moktar Radin, Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan, Sabah
(Media link: https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2020/05/12/bung-moktar-and-wife039s-corruption-trial-to-commence-on-may-14
· Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Member of Parliament for Baling
(Media link: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/trial-abdul-azeezs-corruption-money-laundering-case-begin-aug-18
· Former director, his wife and two former deputy directors of Sabah State Water Department, where RM 114.5 million was confiscated by MACC in October 2016 (Media Links: (1) http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=113241;
(2) http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=128684
(3) http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news/132645/hearing-fixed-for-august-6/
Corruption does not just cause leakages and loss of taxpayers’ money. Its implications are much wider: impinging on government’s effectiveness, inflating cost of business operation, and eroding confidence of the public and businesses. It is one key reason why Malaysia has failed to developed our economy despite our rich natural and human resources, lagging behind from Singapore - once part of Malaysia – which lacks landmass and resources and but is well-known for its intolerance of corruption.
What do we want?
We call upon the Prime Minister of Malaysia, YB Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to:
· Move to create an Office of Public Prosecution independent from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) which should in turn focus on providing legal counsel to the government and law-drafting to ensure no selective and politically-motivated prosecution.
· Immediately table the Political Financing Bill, drafted for a long time, in Parliament both to ensure greater transparencies in the funding of political parties and to penalise and deter political parties in/from corruption.
· Set up a thorough and independent committee to inquire and investigate if political proximity of Musa Aman to the PN government had played a role in influencing the withdrawal of the charges by the prosecution.
We call upon the Judiciary to uphold rule of law and ensure no criminals are too powerful to escape their penalty.
We also call upon the MACC to carry out their duty faithfully, professionally and independently to end the endemic corruption in Malaysia. Law enforcement officers should always remember colluding with criminals may land themselves in court someday.
We, the SAWOrriors, a young group of activists from Sabah, ask you to heed our petition and call upon all Malaysians to sign this petition to show your solidarity in standing up against kleptocrats, malpractices and corruption and an urgent call to the government in establishing a system of high integrity with good governance and practices.
[Cartoon courtesy from Haili]