MACC Chief Mr Azam Baki said Malaysia lost RM277 billion due to corruption based on the country’s cumulative gross domestic product from 2018 to 2023.
Channel News Asia reported that MACC did not specify how the RM277 billion figure was calculated given that Malaysia’s annual GDP is approximately US$407 billion, according to the World Bank.
It is now anyone guess that Malaysia could have lost more than RM 277 billion, given other leakages and corruption that were not accounted for.
In fact, Malaysia could have improved their Corruption Perception Index (CPI) ranking better than Singapore had MACC address the elephant in the room.
Here are top four things that MACC could have done more effectively to improve the CPI ranking for Malaysia:
1. Investigate Taib and his associates
While whistle-blower policy announced by the Prime Minster Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was a noble effort, MACC should reopen the case to investigate the late Sarawak premier, Pehin Tun Taib Mahmud and his associates.
Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) has estimated the assets of Tun Taib Mahmud’s family at US$21 billion (RM64 billion) spread across 400 companies globally, while the personal wealth of Tun Taib Mahmud himself was estimated to be around US$15 billion (RM46 billion), allegedly hidden overseas or in offshore districts as reported by BMF.
Taib’s iron fist extend to the Carbon Credit SaraCarbon project which was awarded to Samling in a 60-year concession as reported by Sarawak Report. As Sarawak concession is known for corrupt practices through kick-backs, this project was not reviewed by current Chief Minister and Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Awang Tengah.
Will MACC investigate the former Sarawak Premier and his associates including Awang Tengah for allowing legacy contracts to prolong without a thorough review by the current administration to ensure there are no leakages or corruption?
The public is waiting for a bold move for MACC to enter Sarawak, a state that is tainted with long history of abuses, corruption, nepotism and cronyism.
The Sarawak Report reported that Tun Taib Mahmud once allegedly purchased a 15,016-square-foot luxury mansion in Kuala Lumpur for RM11.5 million, which is believed to be the second most expensive property in the city.
Now does MACC has the political will to freeze all assets belonging to Taib and his comrades?
2. Freeze and Arrest Dr. Mahathir
On Jan 18 and Jan 26, the MACC served former Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir’s sons Mirzan and Tan Sri Mokhzani with a notice to declare all movable and immovable assets under their possession, in the country and abroad, within 30 days from the date of the notice.
They were later given a 30-day extension by the MACC owing to the extensive nature of their assets.
In a move that were seen as political in nature as the Madani’s Government was combating corruption in Malaysia, the MACC’s integrity was in question by the public when Tun Dr. Mahathir did not receive such treatment.
The MACC Chief said in a latest statement that there are no plans to arrest Mahathir as the investigation is still on going.
Will MACC issue the same directive from to freeze the assets and arrest the former Prime Minister for further investigations or declare all movable and immovable assets within 30 days?
The public is eagerly waiting on the bold move by MACC similar to the bold move taken to freeze all assets of Tun Daim and his associates.
If MACC is serious in saving more for the country, launching a thorough investigations and freezing all assets of former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir will definitely improve the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Malaysia.
3. Investigate Nga Kor Ming
Earlier in May, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) criticised a RM5.21mil allocation announcement to upgrade public infrastructure facilities in Kuala Kubu Baru. This is in light of the Kuala Kubu by Election.
It was reported that Bersih claimed that the announcement was a form of vote buying and against campaigning laws.
After further probing by the media, the MACC chief Azam said no investigations have commenced against Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming over the RM5.21mil allocation for the Hulu Selangor Municipal Council ahead of the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
If MACC can launch investigation against DAP’s political leader Lim Guan Eng and bring him to court, many believe that MACC has the capacity to launch an investigation on Nga Kor Ming.
MACC should take an unbiased approach in launching more investigations on DAP leaders and the “givers” (i.e companies) to improve the overall Corruption Perception Index (CPI).
The reality is, DAP-related companies are cronies who are known to operate through a network of legitimate businesses that are deep-rooted in corrupt and unethical practices in Malaysia for decades.
Will MACC have the capacity or political will to collaborate with LHDN and other agencies to investigate these companies that fund the DAP political party through illegal sources?
4. Investigate Hajiji and Masidi Manjun
Sabah is not sparred when it comes to corruption in Malaysia and MACC knows the fact that there has been many reported cases against past and present administration of Sabah leaders, dating back to former Minister Shafie Apdal, former Chief Minister and even civil servants.
The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) of Malaysia in 2024 could be better should MACC take bold steps to investigate the selected Sabah-owned state GLCs. This is in view that there are more than 200 Sabah-state GLCs which many are loss-making, prompting further leakages that adds to the RM 277 billion of losses due to corruption in Malaysia.
There is mounting pressure for MACC to investigate current Sabah Minister, Hajiji and his close comrade Masidi Manjun who is serving in the capacity of Finance Minister of Sabah.
Sabah state-owned entity, Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) was created under Hajiji’s leadership to transform the state into an Oil and Gas hub, was in a hot soup after the news of its RM 900 million capital raising exercise, led by SMJ technical advisor and chairman of Sabah Development Bank (SDB) Datuk Seri Panglima Lim Haw Kuang.
In fact, SMJ Energy’s ambitious plans to acquire six additional O&G assets, alongside its efforts to finalize the RM1.2 billion acquisition of Sabah International Petroleum (SIP) was seen as a bailout by Oil and gas analysts, business communities, including politicians such as YB Bung Mokhtar who recently raised this question in the recent state assembly.
In addition, the transparency of how RM 900 million is being used by SMJ was in question by YB Bung, a prominent UMNO politician in Sabah, prompting further scrutiny by lawmakers and opposition as reported in many news outlets.
Former CEO of Institute of Development Sabah (IDS) Datuk Dr. Johan Ariffin Samad expressed his frustration on the risks that the Sabah Government will face in the oil and gas business and the creation of SMJ without further scrutiny by the MACC adds to more question from public.
Will MACC investigate the present Chief Minister of Sabah, Masidi Manjun and his comrades?
Conclusions
The Madani Government had done bold steps to transform Malaysia to be a corruption-free country. But more work should have been done if MACC is serious to combat corruption regardless of power, race or political affiliation.
Whilst some moves by MACC are done to manage the optics, more actions are needed to address the elephants in the room, or those low hanging fruits by reopening the case, or launching full-on investigations for the sake of a better Malaysia.
