YOURSAY | ‘The people already lost confidence that there will be a serious effort to fight graft.’
COMMENT | The MACC must rise to this moment
Exile: The timing of the appointment of former judge Abdul Halim Aman as the new MACC chief commissioner, coming just ahead of the “Tangkap Azam Baki” rally, carries a message that may not have been intended but is difficult to ignore.
It suggests that public pressure, especially when visibly mobilised, can influence decision-making at the highest levels.
For decades, Malaysia’s governance has often been described through the lens of developmental authoritarianism, where stability and growth took precedence over open contestation.
In that context, responsiveness to street-level pressure was limited, if not actively discouraged.
What we may be witnessing now, under the banner of Malaysia Madani, is a gradual recalibration - an acknowledgement that legitimacy in a modern state is increasingly tied to responsiveness, not just results.
This does not mean a full democratic consolidation has arrived. Institutions remain uneven, and the line between responsiveness and reaction can still blur. But even incremental shifts matter.
When governments begin to act with an awareness of public sentiment, however imperfectly, it signals movement away from insulated decision-making toward a more participatory political culture.
Change may be slow, but it is visible - and that, in itself, is significant.
BOBBYO: Please, PKR deputy president Nurul Izzah Anwar, by this appointment, the people have already lost confidence in Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Harapan-led administration, that there will be a serious effort to fight graft.
A government civil servant in the twilight of his years, fighting graft. Are you serious, Nurul Izzah? Secondly, an individual recommended by your father?
What about the names mentioned by the public? Why were they not selected? Why was your father not listening to the cries of the people and instead decided to make his choice?
It all goes to show that there is no seriousness on his part. So stop this wayang kulit and try to influence the public by writing such letters and playing the good cop.
We had experienced all this when the daughters of former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Najib Abdul Razak, and even Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, tried to defend their fathers.
In some cases, they even tried to portray that they disagreed with their father’s decision.
But at the same time, they are enjoying the perks and benefits that their fathers brought home. All hypocrites of the highest order.
Sure, a new broom will sweep everything clean. You can expect some fireworks in the beginning, to try and display a show of how serious the govt is, but in the end it will all fizzle down. Life will go back to normal.
Well, the people will decide in the end, during the 16th general election, how much trust they have in the father-and-daughter combo.
UNDECIDED: This is a fair statement from Nurul. If the new MACC chief manages to do a good job of reforming the MACC Act, his appointment would have been justified.
Without a proper reporting structure and legal framework, whoever is appointed cannot really give this high-profile job their best shot.
The MACC chief should not be subjected to pressure from the prime minister, especially since his portfolio is under his office.
Dr Suresh Kumar: Aren’t we used to such bloviating? Marina Mahathir was adept at it, then went quiet. Now it’s this lady’s turn.
Nurul Izzah, why don’t you ask your government to release the report on outgoing MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s case immediately, since it has been more than a month?
Will you ask the new MACC chief to investigate the corporate mafia and the Sabah corruption case as soon as he takes over power?
(corporate mafia)
Kawak: Nurul Izzah, you are wasting your time writing this piece and our time reading these hypocritical comments.
Tell off your father on this issue and tell him to disclose the outcome of Chief Secretary to the Government Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar’s investigation into Azam, and of course, not forgetting to set up a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) on the corporate mafia.
This timely article is just to pacify some after yesterday’s “Tangkap Azam Baki” demonstration.
BlueCougar1744: As Anwar has been reluctant to conduct the RCI, it is wise for the new MACC chief to insist on one to clear the commission’s image.
Nurul Izzah has zero clout over her dad, and by asking MACC to rise to the occasion, falling short of an RCI, the commission can never have the fullest trust and respect from Malaysians. Anwar still dictates.
The new chief must agree to allow MACC to report only to parliament voluntarily.
Cynic: Whatever happened to the follow-up to your tirade on Azam?
Chickened out, or have you seen the light from the perspective of your superior?
All you seem to be doing here is indirectly telling us that this newcomer, Halim, was picked out to bend heaven and earth to seek justice just like our brave former MACC chief commissioner.
As if we didn't know!
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