I refer to the Malaysiakini report MACC arrested 605 people last year for corruption .

Director-General Ahmad Said, it is no big deal that the MACC arrested 605 people for corruption if we were to analyse the quality of those arrested. Without going into detail, I can tell that the arrested only involved those taking bribes of a few hundred or a few thousand ringgit.

If the amount of money involved is added up, it is chickenfeed compared to the billions that has gotten away. There is nothing to boast about with this pathetic record and even though the number arrested apparently looks big, the rate of corruption is still unabated.

If MACC is serious in tackling corruption, it should go for the big ones. Let me teach Ahmad Said on how to do so.

After watching so many episodes of ‘Crocodile Hunter’, I learnt how the late Steve Irwin could tame big beasts like crocodiles of wild boars. Whenever he faces a crocodile, his only objective is to catch the head.

Once the head is well tied-up, the rest of the body will automatically ‘give in’. Similarly, if MACC is serious about taming the 'beast' of corruption, it should spare no effort in arresting the ‘heads’ .Of course, Ahmad Said must have the courage of Steve Irwin.

The MACC was presented with a few opportunities to prove itself serious in combating this ‘beast’ but it simply blew it for no reason. Top of the list was the Lingam tape scandal. In fact, the evidences was presented on a silver platter.

There were elements of abuse of power and bribery but how the MACC officers were not able to carry on from there is anybody's guess. It could be that they were not competent for the job or their jobs itself were in jeopardy.

Or it could be that the case involved sharks more fearsome that the great white. The Lingam tape episode however, was not the only chance it had to prove itself. There were allegations of corrupt practice against a former menteri besar. What about the use of state funds for overseas trips?

MACC might claim that this MB has been cleared of those allegations. Here again, the will to prosecute such a ‘big one’ is sorely lacking. If only the officers can pursue the same line and method of questioning as they did with Teoh Beng Hock, more tangible results could have been obtained.

But sadly MACC has got everything topsy turvy. When the case involves a few hundred ringgit, the questioning of the suspect is more intense. I wonder whether it is the same when millions or billions are involved.

In mathematical terms, I suspect that the intensity of questioning varies inversely to the quantity of the amount involved.

Ahmad Said, stop blowing your horn until and unless MACC can net the really ‘big ones’. Yes, Ahmad Said. Get the head and the ‘beast’ will be tamed.