Prosecute people giving bribes, not just the takers

RIGHTLY so, when the Pakatan Harapan government was formed after the 14th General Election, it had to deliver on the promises it made in its election manifesto.

Among urban and urbane circles, the most widely anticipated promise was official investigations into the purported wrongdoings of government leaders, government departments, government-related agencies, and companies such as Felda, Mara, Tabung Haji and 1MDB.

We can easily understand why the fight against corruption and financial abuse has to take precedence when we are convinced the new government means to wipe out kleptocracy in order to present itself as squeaky clean. The very reason why the political parties making up Pakatan Harapan raked in huge numbers of winning votes to topple the previous government was their battle cry against the kleptocracy and corruption of Barisan Nasional leaders.

To be seen as serious, their playing field had to immediately be strewn with corrupt Umno leaders and heads of government departments and agencies, including the GLCs that are purported to have abused their positions.

Thus we saw the quick establishment of special councils, such as the Council of Eminent Persons and the Institutional Reforms Committee, and their working teams to lead government-sanctioned investigations for the purpose of advising the Prime Minister and his Cabinet on the appropriate action to take with- in the first 100 days.

We also saw the axing of many heads among top professionals in the country’s civil service, government corporations, and political appointees. And the purge continues today with daily reports of the unearthing of financial scandals and skeletons falling out of hidden cupboards.

Zooming in on just one of the criminal acts, namely bribery and corruption, that is being rigorously uncovered by the MACC, a key question to be asked is: If those charged are the takers, who are the givers? If the takers are being charged, why are the givers not being prosecuted and dragged into court in the same fashion? If there are thieves among the leaders who have stolen the rakyat’s money in broad daylight, might not there be their cohorts, ie, the masterminds, hiding in the darkness of the underworld?

Corruption is a two-way phenomenon involving the gullible and corruptible takers and the truly criminal and conniving givers. The bribery process involves the giver handing inducements to the taker. The question of who or what comes first is moot. Both parties are committing crimes and must be prosecuted.

If the MACC is to be credible in its role, it must investigate all parties involved in corruption – that is, both givers of bribes and their takers. They must relentlessly pursue the givers, just as they are prosecuting the takers. So far, this crucial balance has not been achieved.

Equally accountable is the Attorney General and his Chambers in determining who and which cases are, in the end, worthy of being brought to book, and which past leaders should be blamed and shamed.

Unless and until the public sees fairness and balance in the anti-corruption drive, we will not be convinced that these agencies are acting on behalf of a just government. I hope the Pakatan Harapan government delivers on the dream of a Malaysia that is truly democratic, fair and just. Let it not be said that, all too soon, our sense of security is being torn apart by government decisions and actions that are biased and unfair.