Corruption watchdog group Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) wants the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to probe graft allegations against Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud.

transparency international malaysia corruption perception index 2008 pc 230908 paul low Its president Paul Low ( right ) said today the "serious allegations of extraordinary corruption and abuse of power" against the top Sarawak family could cause the country's corruption index to plunge further.

He was referring to claims on the anti-Taib website Sarawak Report , which have exposed documents allegedly pointing to Taib’s global business empire and alleged graft.

Low also urged other enforcement agencies, such as the Securities Commission and Bank Negara, to investigate Taib for possible illicit financial activities.

Taib celebrates his 30th year in office on March 26.

“The enforcement agencies must act promptly to counter public cynicism about selective investigation or non-investigation and selective prosecution or non-prosecution, especially involving the ‘big fish’,” Low said at TI-M’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

azlan He said the enforcement agencies needed to keep the public abreast of  the progress in their investigations in order to ensure transparency and credibility.

The watchdog global Corruption Perception Index (CPI) showed that Malaysia’s scores dipped more last year, after suffering its worst ranking in 2009.

The country’s corruption index score declined from 4.5 to 4.4 out of 10, with 10 being the least corrupt in the CPI which was revealed October last year.

Malaysia’s ranking still remains the same as 2009, at 56th out of 178 countries.

TI-M had earlier said that rampant allegations of corruption must be stemmed for the country to achieve high-income economy status.

The anti-graft watchdog said immediate action was necessary as allegations of corruption against Taib have surfaced in foreign and online media as well.

‘Concern for credibility of the country’

“Transparency International is concerned for (the) credibility of the country and also our image if no investigations are carried out,” Low said.

azlan “The allegations we are concerned about are the massive amounts of wealth amassed by people close to him (Taib) and his family.

“So I think it’s only proper that investigations be carried out to clear the air on how the wealth was amassed,” he said.

“I understand that (some) filing has been made... to the MACC,” he said when asked if he was aware of whether the anti-graft agency has begun its probe.

Low added that the present administration under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has taken “positive and significant” steps in tackling corruption.

Asked whether the administration had the political will to embark on a probe into allegations against Taib, especially with the Sarawak state election looming, Low said: “(The government) can’t be having the National Key Results Area (NKRA) against corruption and ignore rife allegations such as this.”

The Sarawak state polls must be held before July this year.

azlan Sarawak Report and independent radio station Radio Free Sarawak , run by former British prime minister Gordon Brown’s sister-in-law, Clare Rewcastle Brown, is dedicated to unearthing purported corruption and suspicions revolving around Taib’s global business empire.

TI-M has not come out to pressure the anti-graft busters or the government officially, Low said, but that the public wanted accountability and the government was  therefore duty bound to act.

MACC: Don’t speculate

In an immediate response to the Malaysiakini report, MACC issued a statement this evening.

“MACC is an independent commission that investigates on its own accord without receiving instructions from anyone, and (it investigates) without ‘fear and favour’, and is never selective in its investigations,” it said.

The commission stressed that it does not publicise its investigation until a charge is preferred in court in accordance to the provisions of Section 29(4) of the MACC Act 2009.

“With this, we would like the public to cease all speculations and allegations against the MACC that it does not investigate complaints made by the public.”

   

It said that “details and statistics of investigations” are tabled periodically to the operation review panel which is tasked to scrutinise reports from the commission.

“The panel comprises of highly respected individuals with integrity who are committed in ensuring that MACC is heading in the right direction and to ensure check and balance. This shows transparency on the part of the MACC.”

However, there is no reference to Taib in the MACC statement.

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