Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Zulkipli Mat Noor has been left in no doubt as to public expectations of the agency in acting on complaints - for one thing, facts and figures alone do not make any impression.

At a seminar in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, participants and one speaker grilled him on the extent of action taken to date, but were left to mull responses that were less than satisfactory.

The event, pitched as an 'update' on Malaysia's anti-corruption initiatives, was organised by the Asian Institute for Development Communication and Konrad-Adenauer Foundation.

Zulkipli presented the roles and efforts put in by the agency, listing some of the forums and conferences at which the ACA has been represented over the past few years as part of its sound planning and effective strategy.

He also spoke about the multilateral agreements that Malaysia has signed with the Anti-Corruption Bureau Brunei, Corruption Eradication Commission of Indonesia and Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau of Singapore.

In addition, he said the ACA had received 11,000 complaints last year alone, but also pointed out that the agency could only investigate those that can be backed with evidence and witnesses who are willing to testify in court.

Disappointment in ACA

However, his account did not impress a fellow panelist - The Sun executive editor R Nadeswaran - and some 60 participants comprising representatives of the media, tertiary institutions and non-governmental organisations.

A number of participants asked why rampant corruption continues and about specific actions the agency has been taking to resolve the problem. To these, Zulkipli gave stock answers that have been previously reported.

Nadeswaran said he was not happy with the way the agency had dealt with a complaint he had lodged via email, to which a reply was only sent six weeks later. (However, when met later, he did not want to reveal the details.)

"They (ACA) did not act until the former Inspector-General Police Haniff (Omar) called me and later called Zulkipli as well. He (Zulkipli) later called me and said he had been away," Nadeswaran said.

That complaint, he said, has not been settled as the ACA is still investigating the matter.

He further took the ACA to task for going on frequent 'study tours' abroad, but Zulkipli countered that such trips were justified as these have focused on ways to combat corruption.

"We work better through co-operation than in isolation. This is why I state the initiatives can really help," he said.

Zulkipli then turned the tables on the participants, asking what individuals have done to fight corruption.

Open door policy

He said the agency has an 'open door policy' to enable members of the public to visit its offices and to provide corruption-related information. However, each report must first be evaluated as to whether there is a basis for investigation.

"We are not obliged to inform people about the status of the investigation," he said, demonstrating this with a refusal to respond to a question on the status of investigations into the case of former Sabah chief minister Osu Sukam's massive gambling debts.

Earlier, Backbenchers Club chairperson Shahrir Abdul Samad said in the keynote address that combating corruption requires political will.

Shahrir, who is also heads the Public Accounts Committee, observed that local authorities are "less transparent" in their functions and that has created room for corruption.

"If I had my way there would be a move towards transparency and openness at that level (local authority)... I'm a strong believer in change beginning at the grassroots level," he added.