Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) urges the government, helmed by Dato Sri Ismail Sabri to keep focused on the reform agenda and the ultimate goal of the NACP (National Anti-Corruption Plan)– fighting corruption to ensure economic prosperity for the nation. In doing so, TI-M implores the government to demonstrate its will and commitment in this regard by taking appropriate and immediate action within its jurisdiction on the information revealed in the Pandora Papers.
The government must distance itself from and take stern action against all individuals and organisations involved in corruption, money laundering, capital flight and possible misuse of public funds such as that revealed in the 1MDB mega scandal by fighting this battle on all fronts including investigating, transparently presenting the findings, debating in Parliament and implementing the necessary policies to plug the leak of billions of Ringgit - which could have been spent on improving access to healthcare, providing financial aid and decreasing youth unemployment especially during these current times of economic uncertainty.
It is unacceptable in this day and age, when the rest of the world has received information on prominent Malaysians’ involvement in the scandal, for local law enforcement authorities to drag their feet or claim investigations may only be commenced after specific police reports have been filed.
Furthermore, Malaysia has no lack of enforcement and regulatory agencies financed by taxpayer money which have jurisdiction to investigate, carry out surveillance, seize assets and recover Malaysian assets and monies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, National Revenue Recovery Enforcement Team, National Anti- Financial Crime Commission, Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation, Interpol, the Inland Revenue Board and Bank Negara Malaysia.
Plugging these leaks requires adequate gatekeeping by the use of effective laws. TI-M has long believed transparency kills corruption and looking at these elaborate webs of public contracts, international transactions, capital flight and laundering of money, it is strict and transparent asset declarations that can exorcise these ills from public office.
TI-M along with other civil societies have long been advocating for an Act on asset declarations. We believe asset declarations should include assets, equity, involvement and interests held locally and internationally. Asset declarations should be mandatory and fully disclosed on a public register – not merely voluntary income declarations. “None of these ideas are new, and many have been implemented in countries with higher Corruptions Perceptions Index (CPI) scores”, said Muhammad Mohan, president of TI-Malaysia.
The government should not allow certain quarters to sweep all these multibillion-dollar scandals under the parliamentary and judiciary rug any further, for their personal gain. The Rakyat are watching – including the voters of the upcoming elections.
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Note to Editors: For clarification on this statement from Transparency International – Malaysia (TI-M),
kindly refer to Dr. Muhammad Mohan, Transparency International Malaysia T: +603 7887 9628
