Anti-graft group plans second rally, accuses govt of reform inaction

Summary

• Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah will hold the Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah 2.0 rally on June 28 to demand faster institutional reforms.

• The group criticises the government for failing to act on anti-corruption promises, calling Pakatan Harapan “hypocritical” over unfulfilled reform pledges.

• Key demands include separating the AG and public prosecutor roles, making the MACC independent, and justice in the Teoh Beng Hock case.

An anti-graft NGO is set to stage yet another protest on June 28 to urge the government to expedite institutional reforms in efforts to combat corruption.

Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah said the “Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah 2.0” rally is scheduled to begin at 2.30pm in front of the Sogo shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, with participants expected to march to Dataran Merdeka.

The demonstration follows the group’s first rally on Jan 25 and the submission of a memorandum to Putrajaya the following month.

Organisers, however, claimed that the government has yet to provide an adequate response to their demands.

“The Madani government has yet to respond to our demands with any solid anti-corruption policy or action.

“Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s administration seems more comfortable staying silent, even though reform pledges have been repeated since his days as the opposition,” the organisers told a press conference in Petaling Jaya last night.

Strong turnout

One of the secretariat’s spokespersons, Brendon Gan, 24, expressed hope for a larger turnout during the upcoming rally.

“If we could mobilise approximately 400 Malaysians in just two weeks for the previous protest, it's not impossible to garner even more (participants) this time around to pressure the government.

“This is a call to Malaysians, (including) youths, activists, and students. If you’re still asking why we take to the streets, it’s to demand action on the hollow reform promises made by the government," he stressed.

The secretariat also accused Pakatan Harapan of being “hypocritical” for not implementing any of the institutional reforms the coalition had previously pledged.

As such, the group put forward four key demands:

• Separation of powers between the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Public Prosecutor’s Office by amending Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution and Section 376 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

• Make the MACC an independent body, including by reviewing the MACC Act 2009 and limiting the term of its chief commissioner.

• Enact a Political Financing Act, as proposed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia.

• Provide updates on the Teoh Beng Hock case, which the group says remains unresolved despite past promises for justice.

Pressure continues

The secretariat emphasised that it will continue pushing for reforms until the government takes its demands seriously.

"We’re tired of the government’s indifference. If the Madani government appears to have been tamed by corruption, it wouldn’t be surprising if it eventually falls like how (former prime minister) Najib Abdul Razak did over 1MDB,” it cautioned.

The group also voiced support for the Himpunan Gempur Rasuah Sabah, set to take place from June 21 to 22.

“This gathering is legal, peaceful, and inclusive. We urge all Malaysians to join us in demanding change.

“Corruption is a disaster - fighting it is a righteous act,” the group added.

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