The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and BN MPs should stop their ‘sandiwara’ of pledging to fight corruption when they have failed to prevent the RM42 billion 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal or taken any action over the RM52 billion missing bumi shares scandal and the RM13.5 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone scandal.

If the BN MPs want to make a personal statement by showing their sincerity for upholding integrity in leadership, they can publicly declare their assets to compel ministers and the prime minister to do the same.

As part of the ruling state government in Penang, all PR state assemblypersons in Penang have publicly declared their assets to demonstrate this commitment to integrity in leadership and fight corruption. Further, Penang has also implemented competitive open tenders and barred family members of government leaders from doing business with the state government.

Sadly, BN wakil rakyats only talk about fighting corruption without practicing what they preach. This type of sandiwara has led to serial financial scandals. Even before the RM52 billion missing bumi shares meant to be distributed to poor bumis remain unresolved and nothing is happening on  the RM13.5 billion Port Klang Free Trade Zone scandal, Malaysians are saddled by the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal.

No wonder the Washington-based Global Financial Integrity (GFI) report estimated that RM1.4 trillion of illicit funds or “black” money has flowed out of the country secretly over the last 10 years. So big is this RM1.4 trillion that if divided equally amongst 28 million Malaysians, every citizen would have lost RM50,000 each! And yet neither MACC nor BN MPs appear concerned and can still shamelessly talk of fighting corruption.

By adopting a hypocritical and ostrich in the sand approach will not make corruption go away. A concerted and cohesive campaign must be made to fight corruption all the way to the top as is now presently carried out in China. The 1MDB scandal will be a good starting point to cleanse Malaysia and begin our path towards integrity.

LIM GUAN ENG is DAP secretary-general and Bagan MP.