Ignoring illicit outflow won't make it go away

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YOURSAY Financial watchdog GFI uses the same formula for all countries. So, why do other exporting countries have very much lower figures?

Not in denial over GFI report but graft only tiny portion

SpongeBob: Whether illicit outflow due to corruption is a small or large amount, it is a cause of great concern. A crime is committed even if there is RM1 illicit outflow and needs serious attention.

A child is punished even if he steals five sen. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Paul Low, what statistics are you giving? Don't find reasons to absolve yourself from your duty.

Kanasai: Financial watchdog Global Financial Integrity (GFI) uses the same formula for all countries. Why only Malaysia has this problem, while others that are also exporting countries, have very much lower figures?

Can this minister explain in more detail, rather than beating around the bush and comparing us with countries like Singapore, Indonesia, China, etc?

FutureMalaysians: Can Bank Negara give a detailed breakdown now? You ministers can only talk and we cannot trust you.

Vijay47: Paul Low, do you people in government go for some higher studies in ‘spin'? You now claim that corruption is the cause of only about one percent of the outflow from Malaysia, meaning that 99 percent is attributable to crime and tax evasion.

So this makes everything OK? I suppose you will next come out with the revelation that since corruption constitutes only RM1.74 billion of the total amount fleeing the country, Malaysia is a monument in the effectiveness of its anti-corruption measures.

It is time for you to team up with Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi - if you have not already done so.

Fourtan: And you people trust this government to implement GST? The country has bled RM1 trillion. It's sickening. Wealth is not being kept here for the benefit of the rakyat. Malaysia is being raped with impunity. And the government is helping things along. Wake up, people.

Anonymous_3e86: Corruption is corruption, no matter how small. So RM1 billion is small? And how did Low come up with that figure? He knows who and who is sending money out? And how much too?

Lionking: This man has thousands of excuses up in his sleeves. He has answers for everything and as far is he is concerned, everything is minuscule and in small amounts.

DontPlayGod: Mis-invoicing? Isn't this another cover-up for corruption? How did those billions of ringgit get into the overseas accounts? You think the ordinary man-in-the street or the pensioner is responsible for this?

Paul, don't talk to us like we are 10-year-olds. Keep enjoying the perks, your salary, and fringe benefits (car, bungalow, etc). We don't blame you.

Pacific.rim: For a country with a population of less than 30 million, US$54 billion is an awfully sinful figure. Let's make it to per capita measurement and Malaysia is Number 1. How do you explain that sir?

Shibboleth: Integrity and Transparency Minister, corruption is corruption. A little bit also cannot. Do you understand?

Rubystar_4037: Dear Low, I think you are in your mid-60s. I am sure you have a successful corporate life and you have built up a good nest for your retirement. From the time you became a minister, you insult yourself, your family and your friends by giving excuses, misinformation and rationale for the wrongdoings of this corrupt government.

Have some dignity left and quit while you are still ahead. Be a consultant elsewhere to occupy your time and nurture some real good friends. You sleep with a nest of vipers; you will be bitten soon enough.

One day you may have to do something for BN that is totally against your conscience (not that you are not doing that now). Then, you will be haunted by that episode for the rest of your life. Go and ride peacefully into the sunset . Please have some dignity and self-respect.

Armageddon: Now we know, why all of a sudden, PAS deputy president Mat Sabu is accused of being a Shiite. There are bigger problems, and they need a big carpet to sweep it under.

The watchman: What do you call a person who decides to join Ali Baba and his 40 thieves?

Anonymous #07521476: Mispricing activity played by multinational companies - we have no way of stopping them? I worked with an American firm years ago. We used to quote at much lower prices, causing mismatches of export figures.

Many people now doing business in China are using illegal money changers to transfer money out of the country to buy goods from China or other countries.

These illegal money changers are very efficient and there are no records. Bank Negara Malaysia needs to improve its services on foreign exchange. Illegal money changers can take just few hours, or even minutes.

Immigrants who transfer money back to their homeland mostly don't use the banking system or even registered money changers. They just deal with someone who is a runner for transferring money, pay them a small amount of commission, and their loved ones will get the money in a very short time.

Of course the GFI number consists of corrupt or illicit money. I think the actual figure is much smaller.

Odin: Paul Low, what you are saying is the same as me saying, "Positive-matter particles exist because they exceed anti-matter particles probably by about one percent. That is my rough estimate. We are not talking of exact figures here."

Do I sound convincing to you if you know that I have not even attempted to calculate the possible number of both types of particles, nor have I told you what mathematical equation I would be using to execute my calculations?

James1067: RM1 trillion in the last 10 years, RM200 billion in 2010 and now RM197 billion has left our shores. Why are you now trying to justify, or even calculate the amount that is due to corruption?

What actions are going to be put in place to stop this outflow? Otherwise the nation will bleed to death. Don't give some flimsy excuses as you and your colleagues are the captains of this ship that is slowly, but surely, sinking. Hand it to people who are more capable, if you cannot perform.

For a better Malaysia: One easy and simple way to deal with corruption is to have independent investigations against all those living above their means. Would Senator Low like the public to help him list out this group of people?

Also, enough of taskforce after taskforce. Surely you already know the issues, after all these years. Bring in independent resources, bring in the civil resources and corruption will be dealt with, much faster and more effectively.

One must deal with these things differently to get different results. The current government resources to fight corruption are corrupt as well, and will not change.

Amah: Spin, spin, spin...


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