MACC declares war on structural graft

PETALING JAYA: Following the arrest of a state customs director and several other officers from the department in the recent bust of a liquor and cigarettes smuggling syndicate, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has decided to declare war on structural corruption.
MACC deputy Chief Commission (Prevention) Datuk Mustafar Ali said structural corruption, or institutionalised corruption, refers to people from a unit, or even the whole department, colluding to derive benefits through corrupt means, with those highest in the ranks benefiting the most.
He said although corruption has yet to reach epidemic proportions in Malaysia, it is feared that it would continue to worsen if tougher action is not taken to check it.
The problem of structural corruption in Malaysia is not as serious as in Indonesia and India, but MACC will take appropriate measures, such as holding dialogues with the police and other enforcement agencies on arresting the problem early, Mustafar told Nanyang Siang Pau during a visit to the Chinese daily last Friday.
"We will meet with Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar next week, to understand their situation, including the newly set up Standard Compliance and Integrity Department as well as the mechanisms and strategies they are adopting.
"We need to know the police's strategies, because they cannot just set up (the Standard Compliance and Integrity Department) but not take concrete action," said Mustafar.
On another note, Mustafar said the Chinese do not have full confidence in the Whistleblowers Protection Act 2010, and are hesitant when asked to provide more details or to appear in court as witnesses after blowing the whistle.
He said since the Act came into force four years ago, 39 persons had reported to MACC but Chinese whistleblowers had doubts about the Act's mechanism.
Some believe to appear in court is bad luck, he quipped.
"They are willing to provide information, but it is very difficult to get further cooperation from them, especially to get them to appear in court as witnesses."
He said Chinese should have confidence in MACC as the identities of whistleblowers will be protected by the government.