The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center), is deeply troubled by the explosive and shocking revelations shared by whistleblower Edisi Siasat on social media in the last few weeks, targeting the highest leadership and top enforcement officials of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police.
High-level criminal activity, extortion and illicit enrichment among these leaders has been laid bare, and the distressing details have sent shock waves across social media, leaving Malaysians in shock and despair.
The very leaders entrusted to safeguard our nation from corruption and preserve national security are themselves alleged to be in deep cahoots with organised criminal networks. These alleged crimes are so serious that, if true, they would endanger the security of our country.
It bears reminding that former inspector general of police Hamid Bador had warned of cartels and high levels of corruption within the police force upon his retirement late last year, and they even pushed to remove him for going against corruption.
The current inspector general has uttered little to nothing on pursuing any sort of investigation on such claims. No one has since been named or charged for abuse of power and corruption, and the impunity continues.
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It has become clearer with each day that Edisi Siasat’s allegations must be dealt with through nothing less than a full-blown and independent investigation, led by independent and capable professionals outside of these two agencies, with findings made fully transparent, to determine how much truth is in the allegations. The need for a truly independent police complaints and misconduct commission cannot be cast aside anymore. The Ismail Sabri government must make this an urgent priority.
Law Minister Wan Junaidi’s announcement saying that investigations into Edisi Siasat’s claims are ongoing, while offering some relief, does not inspire public confidence.
The bursting bubble of business dealings and alleged deep-rooted connections with the underworld by the MACC’s past and present chief commissioners and the alleged involvement of their family members must be addressed with a deep sense of urgency to tackle the growing distrust towards the anti-corruption commission. The MACC needs an overhaul, and the time to start this process is now.
We further call on the law minister to use the research by the Bar Council, C4 and other NGOs in 2015 to create an independent oversight body to monitor the work of the commission and the credibility of the appointment process of the chief commissioner and his or her leadership.
In addition to this and our statement dated 23 October, C4 Center also urges the government to:
- Expedite the setting up of an independent investigation committee comprising independent experts and civil society members, separate from the MACC and the police, to probe the allegations by Edisi Siasat against the top leadership of these two law enforcement agencies
- The newly set-up National Anti-Financial Crime Centre (NAFCC) should lead the formation and facilitation of an independent probe into the rising transgressions within the MACC and the police involving its officials
- Instruct the leaders named in Edisi Siasat’s exposé to go on garden leave pending a thorough probe into the details disclosed by Edisi Siasat
- Prioritise reforms to the MACC (using our memorandum jointly released with the Malaysian Bar back in 2015) to ensure its full independence
The government owes it to the Malaysian people to report all findings about these serious criminal allegations committed by MACC officers.
There must be no holds barred for truth to emerge at long last. – C4 Center
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