By ZAID IBRAHIM
COMMENT The deputy chief commissioner (operations) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Mohd Shukri Abdul, admitted
at a public forum recently that the MACC is rendered helpless when the
attorney-general does not want to charge someone with graft even if the
MACC investigation produces adequate evidence.
This is not a new revelation. It has been a common complaint over the
years from the enforcement agencies, whether the police, the Securities
Commission, Immigration, Customs or the MACC. These agencies can only
investigate and recommend, but the decision to prosecute ultimately
depends on the attorney-general.
This is the most scandalous, preposterous and ridiculous state of
affairs in our country. It sickens me how we have allowed such a blatant
abuse of power by the Barisan Nasional government to go unchecked.
All these enforcement agencies are adequately staffed by senior lawyers
and experienced investigating officers. They have all the facilities
required to conduct proper investigations. So why can’t we allow these
agencies the power to decide the final question, which is whether the
culprit should be prosecuted or not?
I suppose the reason why the BN Government wants to keep things as they
are is that if they can “control” the attorney-general, they can then
exercise their power accordingly when it suits them.
When I was in the government, I proposed that we should amend the
federal constitution to give the power to prosecute not just to one
person called the attorney-general, but to a newly created Office of the
Public Prosecutor to be headed by the solicitor-general; (and all the
designated lawyers in that office).
I wanted the attorney-general not to be involved in the day-to-day
operations of criminal prosecution but to act only as chief legal
adviser to the government so we can overcome the present mischief. But
the strongest objection came from my erstwhile colleagues: the BN
ministers.
They did not say why they objected but we all knew the reason. The
attorney-general will of course relish having his full power over Heaven
and Earth since no one else in the country can question his exercise of
power. He does not have to explain his decision.
And of course the BN feels reasonably confident of the arrangement
because the attorney-general holds office at the pleasure of the crown,
meaning the BN government, so they know that they can rein him in when
necessary.
When I said that we should empower the enforcement agencies to prosecute
by designating their officers as members of the Public Prosecutor’s
Office, I was told that this would not be necessary since the
attorney-general has the authority to delegate his power to the officers
in these agencies to prosecute under the Criminal Procedure Code.
System is flawed
The problem is that these “promises” to empower enforcement officers
have not materialised. And even if they do materialise, the set-up is
such that there may well be instances of when the agencies may prosecute
only if the attorney-general consents to it.
The system is flawed because these legal officers are all subservient
to, and dependent on, the attorney-general for their promotion. They
will not cross swords with him. It is impossible for them even to
entertain a decision against the wishes of the attorney-general. This is
where we are today. Why must we live with a system that is so open to
abuse.
By now, the prime minister should recognise that goodies and cash
payments can win support from some people, but the majority of the
rakyat want an accountable and responsible government much more than
handouts.
The airtime and the news on why Anwar Ibrahim is not fit to be prime
minister is a total waste of time. The same news has been repeated again
and again over the past 12 years. It should be replaced by policy
decisions that address the fundamental weaknesses of this government.
That would be fitting for a popular and transformational prime minister.
ZAID IBRAHIM, a former law minister, is the Parti Kita president.
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