A recent statement by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Nazri Aziz, that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has won 69 percent of cases it has brought to court has no bearing on Malaysians because at the end of the day, the highest decision making body such as cabinet ministers or the PM himself are immune from prosecution.

This is a fact because cabinet ministers who are in charge of public funds have been using them indiscriminately during by-elections without any accountability, and the MACC seemingly shies away from investigating the source of these funds.

For MACC to be respected it has to be proactive and take a no- nonsense approach to corruption and it has to be feared by cabinet ministers.

The percentage of prosecuting small fishes has no significance because in the Malaysian feudal political context, the fish rots from the head, and unless this head is cut off and its web of steel is dismantled there would not be a purposeful fight against corruption.

For an example, the Lingam issue could have exposed the network of those who are connected to his case, besides corruption in the judiciary, and this would have implicated a number of influential politicians and businessmen.

Is this the reason he was not charged?

I would like to welcome the latest statement by MACC advisor Robert Phang in asking the attorney general to explain himself regarding corruption allegations, because this high ranking public prosecutor comes under the category of a rotten fish head, and what is significant here is the naming of cases related to influential individuals.

Therefore I hope that MACC, which is trying its best to rebuild its image, would take heed on the character and work culture needed in fighting corruption as mentioned above.

The latest prosecution of Khir Toyo is a welcomed change, but the charges against him does not fall under MACC Act, and this brings more questions than answers, because this defines and demonstrates the cultural attitude of elites towards corruption in Malaysia.