YOURSAY | ‘It clearly shows that the corruption and bribe-taking was on a massive scale.’

In MACC's biggest haul, RM53m seized from Sabah utilities director, deputy

Anonymous 29051438068738: It is simply not possible that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) wake up one morning, after the purge it experienced, to suddenly discover these cases of corruption by Umno appointees. No.

If these investigators are as good as they suddenly appear to be, they would have known about the stashed millions, cars, watches, handbags and properties for some time. But they did not act then.

Is it possible that they are now able to do so only because they have all been directed to stop pursuing the 1MDB masterminds and their accomplices and focus instead on lesser criminals?

If MACC thinks that these deliberately publicised cases will somehow polish its hopelessly tarnished image as yet another Umno-compromised agency, it better think again.

Clever Voter: Quite a lot of people have benefited from the economic growth as well as development projects in Sabah all these years. For that matter, in almost all states, including Kelantan.

Equally dodgy deals have also taken place. Indeed, why has it taken so long for such a case to surface?

Sadly, many of these involved politicians who were trusted and elected by gullible voters. So what’s new?

Anonymous #40538199: Yes, when no action is taken against the corrupted politicians, it emboldens the civil servants.

Dont Just Talk: We need to give credit to MACC for the seizure of RM53 million cash and other assets from the director and his deputy of a Sabah-based utility company, coming right after the corruption charges against a few senior management staff of DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall).

It is frightening to notice the staggering number of corruption cases in the country involving millions and as the saying goes, when top leaders are not seen to be clean, the bottom will be crooked too.

Without an iota of doubt, MO1 (Malaysian Official 1) is to be blamed for the mess that our country is in today.

Anonymous 706151436780066: While the MACC discovery may arouse gasps of awe at the sheer amount of money, the haul clearly shows that the corruption and bribe-taking was on a massive scale.

This could not have escaped the attention of the MACC before this. Further, the internal checks and balances in the utility organisation had obviously failed, been bypassed or consciously compromised by its officers, all of whom perhaps had some share in the takings.

FellowMalaysian: RM3.3 billion contracts given out since 2010 and suddenly, RM53 million found in cold hard cash and RM62 million in bank accounts.

So what has the MACC been doing the past five years beside hounding opposition leaders?

Lenlea: It's astonishing that a director and a deputy director of a utility company in Sabah could amass such a huge amount in cash.

Just imagine how much cash could our ministers at the federal level, or even the state level, could steal if there is no check and balance.

Rick Teo: The three most corrupt branches of the civil service are the Customs Department, Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Forestry Department.

If MACC were to raid the houses of these enforcers, they may find loads and loads of cash in their houses. Go after them.

Anon1: Honestly, how could a civil servant keep that much of cash, even taking into account the accepted norm of their stupidity, without raising alarm bells for so long?

Boeyks: MACC, no matter how many of these ‘ikan bilis’ (small fries) you catch, it will all end up to nothing because the big ones manage to steal a lot more money, and the commission can't do anything about it.

This will be an incentive to the many others eyeing what the big man had got away and will do their best to emulate the master who had defeated MACC.

Fair&Just: RM53 million? This is only the tip of the iceberg. The stacks allegedly with MO1 are by the billions. Is MACC going to raid MO1’s home and office?

Middle Path: MACC, have you read the news on the Ponzi-like scheme used to cover up the embezzled SRC International’s billions?

Bluemountains: These two remanded government officials should not worry too much. After all, RM53 million is peanuts when compared with someone who allegedly stole more than RM2.6 billion.

The attorney-general may drop the case if you tell him that the cash is a donation from a member of the Arab royalty.

Not Convinced: Before the Najib era, such news would have shocked all Malaysians and sent tongues wagging. Now, it is just considered a little blip in our corruption radar.

We are clearly staring into an abyss. And as a wise old man once said, “If you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.”

That’s what Malaysia has become.

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