It was reported yesterday in The Star on page 3, that Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) enforcement chief Capt (Rtd) Abdul Kudus Ahmad has been sacked - a quote plucked from Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

We are further told that a special investigation committee formed by the local council found Abdul Kudus guilty of falsely declaring his financial status - that he was never a bankrupt at the time he took up the contract job with MPAJ.

The sacking, Dr Khir says, took immediate effect after an "exhaustive probe" under Workers Conduct and Discipline Procedure Code 49(1) 1995 and that there was no room for appeal.

This statement was further followed by the usual political jargon and rhetoric on the need for "professionalism, discipline and integrity" of employees working with local government authorities!

I found it rather strange that nothing was said to extend this warning to serving politicians who have inexplicably amassed huge wealth, despite several coming from "humble beginnings"!

I am specially concerned and disturbed by a paragraph that was given prominence in caption by the same report in The Star , where the menteri besar hoped "that for now the matter will not drag on as measures have been taken in view of public confidence"

What was he referring to in this instance? Was he implying that the heat generated by calls to investigate corruption and similar probes be "played down" by the media?

What happened to the repeated calls for accountability and good governance from various demographs, even by the deputy premier, on the need to defend the public interest by extending the probe to other government agencies and local councils in the state?

I must remind the Selangor menteri besar that this matter is far from closed, as the root problem - corruption, and allegations of its presence, is certainly not confined to Abdul Kudus and the MPAJ. It certainly must be addressed in all government agencies and local councils by appointing a high profile committee comprising "untainted members of the civil society" .

However, according to the Malay Mail on June 5, the Selangor menteri besar was reported to have rejected outright a graft probe, for reasons best known to himself!

I am indeed surprised that this comes from a man who had self righteously made it his task to "rid the state of various vices" by joining up the various enforcement teams on nightly raids on gambling outlets, pubs, and vice dens in the state. These raids were accompanied by a friendly 'senior journalist' from one of the country's leading newspapers!

I hope this is not an attempt to frustrate or prevent a statewide probe which may open up a larger can of worms and may create greater embarrassment, to certain quarters known to have enriched themselves while in political office.

As far as I am concerned what has so far been unearthed is only the tip of the iceberg in the sea of corrupt practices.We should extend the search to include politicians in office and companies and contractors associated to them, senior civil servants and heads of local government authorities.

Perhaps, a good way to start is to have a statutory legislation compelling serving politicians, incoming politicians and senior civil servants to make public disclosure of all their assets and financial position.

Members of the public should have free and unhindered access to such information and data and avenues available to initiate a probe if any form of corrupt practice is alleged or suspected!

I know very well that incoming premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is serious and committed about spearheading accountability, good governance and to eradicate graft in its various forms and I sincerely hope Dr Rais Yatim will assist the former in this Herculean effort which has been sidelined for far too long in our nation's history!