We are such a strange lot in matters of corruption. We have de facto Law Minister Rais Yatim asserting to the world that Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail did not find sufficient merit in the allegations of corruption of two Umno politicians recently, to pursue a case.

Instead, the whistle-blower, Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Nor is sent to prison for breaching the "state's (read: government) secret". It is indeed a secret for we do not know what are the grounds for not prosecuting the duo for corruption.

We are to put our trust in the belief of the AG as the government's legal adviser and the de facto law minister in this. But, hey, wait a minute, they are in the same crowd — the adviser to the state and the politicians of Umno, the ruling regime.

Then we have Mohd Ali Tambi Chik, KL's deputy fire chief who has suddenly braved the waters to show up corruption in the Fire and Rescue Department. Other than the usual police ineptitude in rushing to end the press conference (see Under Fire editorial), it appears that the big boys are not muddying the waters and we would probably see some kind of investigation and/or prosecution which may keep us happy that some action is being taken finally on some corruption in this country. Yes, only some and selected prosecution.

This of course does not mean that we should not commend the deputy fire chief from coming to the fore. I think the deputy fire chief deserves a citation for this and perhaps Transparency International would think of commending some kind of recognition or award for Mohd Ali.

But surely the imprisonment of Mohd Ezam and the 'freeing' of the two Umno politicians without any transparency of the facts which gave them the 'benefit of the doubt' must be included in this year's 'stinks' on corruption.