ANTI-GRAFT chief Tan Sri Azam Baki has been told to focus on fighting corruption instead of protecting the country’s image, following his dismissal of an international corruption perception index.
The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) said the findings of Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (TI-CPI) have been endorsed by world stakeholders, and its methodologies, independently audited.
“To claim that the index measures perception has never been disputed,” C4 Center said in a statement. “TI themselves stress that the CPI is not meant to be an absolute measure of corruption within entire nations and its societies.”
C4 Centre also rubbished Azam’s claim that human rights and business ethics are “not linked to corruption”, saying this was an “extremely shallow” take on corruption coming from the head of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
It said the “continued harassment of journalists” and “crackdowns on free speech in an attempt to silence those who would reveal abuses of power by the Government”, demonstrate a clear link between corruption and human rights.
“C4 Center would like to remind Azam Baki that his duty as chief commissioner of MACC is to the public first and foremost, and that his interests and the interests of protecting a ‘national image’ are secondary to the fight against corruption.”
The 2021 TI-CPI ranked Malaysia in 62nd place, dropping three points from 51 in 2020 to 48. A total of 180 countries were surveyed by TI, which has annually ranked perceived levels of public service corruption globally since 1995.
“Did not represent the true level of graft”
On Thursday (July 21), Azam claimed the TI-CPI findings did not represent the true level of graft in Malaysia as it merely measures “perceptions”, saying things must be done based on “facts”.
DAP has since called for Azam’s resignation as MACC chief commissioner over the latter’s remarks.
C4 Centre asked if Azam’s was “de-linking” corruption and business interests so he could “minimise his own culpability”, citing the shareholding controversy linked to him earlier this year that was sparked by an investigative journalist’s articles.
“Or is it merely an attempt on his part at discrediting the CPI as a whole to save face in the event Malaysia’s CPI score continues its descent?”
The anti-graft watchdog also noted that Azam’s insistence on the need for evidence in assessing whether a corrupt act took place was “puzzling” since enforcement agencies like MACC are the ones who procure evidence for corrupt acts.
“If there is a lack of evidence, it follows that there should be more investigations by the agencies who are empowered to do so,” it said.
The perception of corruption that arises from a lack of Government transparency or conflict of interest, C4 Centre added, are problems in themselves that should not necessitate evidence to prove they are problematic. – July 23, 2022
