The Cosmetic of Corruption Combat

Chinese voters are a practical lot in Malaysia.

There are Buddhist, atheist, Christians, Catholics, Muslims amongst them. Chinese are used to overthrowing emperors and establishing new dynasties over and over again hence matters pertaining to monarchy is not the top of their voting consideration ; many of them are not too bothered even about Chinese education (though most are, and probably harbours a profound, sedate but no less committed and dedicated to Chinese language and culture).

However, Chinese are very concerned about financial/economic matters, be it education, scholarship allocation, employment & business opportunities and wastage of public funds.

Hence I wonder if the recent apparent steps in combating corruption is to win over Chinese votes without compromising the traditional part of the zero sum game. A perfectly practical political manoeuvre if you ask me.

However, perhaps this paradigm shift may present MCA with a different challenge as the traditional political currency of communal representation is set aside. That can be served to a different niche market. The Chinese market is about practical issues, and rightly so.

Following the dreadful and hitherto unresolved Teoh Beng Hock's case, and the subsequent racially charged retort;

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http://engagemalaysia.wordpress.com/2009/07/19/nothing-but-the-truth-the-new-straits-times-group-managing-editor-zainul-ariffin-isa-the-sugar-daddy-ofumno-controlled-newspapers-is-positioning-his-ass-for-fire-sale-all-malaysian-are-wellcome-to-mak/

(The Malaysian Insider) – Umno-controlled newspapers, Berita Harian and Mingguan Malaysia, today slammed critics for demonising the country’s graft-busters over Teoh Beng Hock’s death, with one suggesting there is an agenda to weaken Malay-controlled institutions.

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But Berita Harian suggested the agenda was to weaken Malay-controlled institutions in the article, “Kematian Teoh timbulkan pelbagai spekulasi politik”, written by the New Straits Times group managing editor Zainul Ariffin Isa.

“Suspicions have been raised especially among the non-Malays that MACC, which like other departments have many Malay officers, selectively chose non-Malays to be investigated,” he wrote.
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Maybe Zainul has a point, after all, in the PKFTZ case, Ling Liong Sik, Chan Kong Choy and OC Phang are being hauled up while in the missing jet engine case, Tharmendran is so far the only fellow to be tried for that.

I don't give a shit to the racial profile, corruption is corruption, it is a sin according to all religion and it impacts adversely on the innocents. Public funds is meant to be used for the benefit of all community.


the following 2 development gives me the impression that for the first time, even corruption can be racialised in Malaysia.

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http://www.mysinchew.com/node/34983

MACC to meet FeCAM

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is going to visit the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (FeCAM) as it hopes to listen to the Chinese community's views on the commission through communications, says MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohammed

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Meanwhile, Pheng said that as Abu Kassim has took the initiative to ask for a meeting, it showed that Abu Kassim is sincere in his attempt to make the Chinese community and entrepreneurs understand the practices of MACC.

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Excuse me, what does the Chinese community and entrepreneurs not understand about "the practices of MACC"? Does this mean there are more than a straight forward practice of detecting corruption, investigate and indict to preserve natural justice, prevent wastage hence raising cost of living?


And what about this then? While the controlled media spoke passionately of MACC as a Malay Institution earlier, I do not hear a whimper from the same individual over this
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http://www.thesundaily.com/article.cfm?id=46538

400 Chinese apply for MACC vacancies
by Giam Say Khoon

Applicants submit their forms to a MACC staff members at theKuala Lumpur and Selangior Chinese Assembly Hall.

KUALA LUMPUR (May 9, 2010): The recruitment day organised by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazhong) met with overwhelming response today, with some 400 people applying for the 40 vacancies reserved for Chinese-speaking officers in the commission.

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We all know that the race composition in Malaysian civil service been getting more and more mono racial-centric. If there is a need to enrich and strengthen the cultural and language resource within the civil service, then why not conduct similar recruitment drive for other civil services like income revenue board, customs and what not?

So is the recent span of high profile corruption cases represents the dawn of a new era in Malaysia, can we Malaysians bid farewell to the bad old days of the inconclusive Kasitah, Eric Chia and Lingam cases?

1) ACTION TAKEN:

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/33625-sime-darby-gm-to-be-charged-with-graft

Sime Darby GM to be Charged with graft

PETALING JAYA: A general manager at Sime Darby Bhd is expected to be charged today with graft totalling RM300,000 following a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) probe.


The senior executive, who is in his late 30s, is expected to face two charges, including allegedly accepting RM100,000 from a contractor in Johor awarded with a contract related to the shipping industry.

According to its third quarter results announced on May 27, Sime Darby recorded an operating loss of RM1.019bil for its energy and utilities division.

The behaviour and action of the rank and file is shaped by the people at the top. RM300,000 is about 0.03% of RM1.019 billion so at least MACC is starting off with 0.03% of the problem during a 3 months period.

2) I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE ANY FURTHER ACTION ON THIS ONE

http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/33640-zaids-petition-malaysias-judicial-rot-deepens

Would any common man, after reading this, have the slightest doubt that bribery to induce votes have indeed taken place? Wasn’t it crystal clear that the offer of RM3 million was a trade-off for the electorate’s votes for Kamalanathan? Wasn’t the cash offers to Felda settlers an outright inducement for their votes for BN? Don’t our judges have the same kind of common sense that our common folks have?

Let just wait and observe the development up to the next GE then

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