GEORGE TOWN, Jan 14 — The Attorney-General Chambers’ (AGC) decision to drop charges against Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy lends credence to a recent fraud survey which found corruption in Malaysia at a “rather dangerous” level, Lim Guan Eng said today.
The DAP secretary-general labelled the move an “abdication of duty” by the AGC and warned Putrajaya that Malaysians will stay in the middle-income trap if it does not arrest the problem of corruption here.
“BN must be reminded that if they continue to trivialise the climate of fraud, bribery and corruption that is presently at a ‘rather dangerous’ trend, Malaysia will not be able to eliminate poverty and remain stuck in the middle-income trap,” Lim said in his Pongal Day message, referring to the ruling Barisan Nasional pact.
Chan was freed of cheating charges in the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal yesterday after the prosecution, in considering the former transport minister’s application to strike out the case, decided to drop the charges.
The MCA man’s acquittal drew widespread criticism from federal opposition lawmakers, however, as they demanded that Putrajaya explain if this meant the multibillion ringgit PKFZ scandal would turn into a crime with no criminals.
The acquittal came the same day that KPMG released its fraud survey, which revealed that seven out of 10 top executives in Malaysia believe bribery and corruption are “an inevitable cost of doing business” here.
The survey, which polled executives from 100 listed companies, also revealed that 64 per cent of respondents believed businesses in Malaysia cannot function without paying bribes.
The respondents were top executives including chief executive officers and chief financial officers from some 1,000 public listed companies in Malaysia.
“The Attorney-General Chambers’ dropping of cheating charges against former transport minister and ex-MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy over the RM12.85 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal serves to confirm KPMG’s survey,” Lim said.
The Penang chief minister proposed that Putrajaya take six steps to renew its fight against graft and re-establish the nation’s integrity.
The first step, Lim suggested, is for Putrajaya to enforce the mandatory declaration of assets by the prime minister, ministers, chief ministers and state executive council members, which should be vetted by an international accounting firm.
He also suggested the implementation of open competitive tenders for projects, a ban on family members of ministers and the like from involvement in government contracts, protection for genuine whistleblowers, removal of leaders with extravagant lifestyles and coming clean on political donations.
“Establishing integrity will not only bring human dignity but also economic dignity to Malaysians that reward hard work and gives equal opportunities to all,” he said.
Lim also accused the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of turning a blind eye to KPMG’s survey findings, saying the graft-busting agency has been ineffective in its duty to combat corruption.
He noted MACC that had remained unmoved even when the Wall Street Journal and Transparency International declared Malaysia as the world champion of corruption with RM1.2 trillion of illicit funds outflow over 10 years between 2002 and 2011.
“Also, MACC has not taken action over wrongdoings and excessive spending exposed in the 2012 Auditor-General’s Report involving RM6.5 billion,” he said.
