THE Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Centre) has condemned the practice of politicians handing out cash to public servants during festive seasons.
The anti-corruption watchdog said regardless the reason, the culture of informal gift-giving from people in positions of power to public servants is unjustifiable as it legitimises money politics and the use of wealth to garner influence.
“Cash handouts have become the standard modus operandi for political parties and politicians to gain supporters throughout the course of Malaysian history, especially in times of unstable socio-economic conditions,” it said in a statement on Friday (April 5).
“Most recently, cash handouts were the main form of government aid during the COVID-19 pandemic as opposed to funds being used to strengthen infrastructure and welfare services, with some federally-allocated funds allegedly diverted into accounts of political parties.”
C4’s statement came in response to UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh’s recent video of himself distributing envelopes containing money to police personnel in Jasin, Melaka in conjunction with the upcoming Hari Raya celebrations.
Akmal later expressed that he would be giving similar donations to local council officials and the Jasin district land office the following week.
On this, C4 stressed that the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had already stated in February that police officers are forbidden from receiving cash packets.
Razarudin said this is in order to preserve the integrity of the police and their ability to act impartially while also explicitly stating that such cultural practices must be kept away from the police.
“Akmal’s defence of his actions, like so many politicians in similar situations before him, falls on the basis that his actions were not strictly unlawful while also contending that the gift-giving was done openly in the presence of department heads,” C4 noted.
“However, such actions still fall within the wider definition of “corruption” – at the very least, such actions are considered detrimental to good governance practices.
“The act of giving money, no matter how small the amount, to police personnel as well as other civil service workers, could inadvertently create bias in the execution of their duties.”
C4 further pointed out that many politicians had refused to acknowledge the fact that their standing as a public figure involved in party politics allows them to potentially leverage their influence to benefit themselves and their party.
As such, gaining the support of the civil service and police in particular greatly benefits their political ambitions as both these groups are in advantageous positions, being entrusted to carry out government policy and are thus the “red tape” in government bureaucracy.
“Such practices by community leaders implicitly endorse the view that gifting money is an acceptable form of network-building, with this endorsement being extended on behalf of their political party as well,” the anti-corruption body stated.
“C4 Center continues to condemn the actions of any and all politicians who attempt to use their wealth to influence and form crony relationships with members of enforcement agencies and civil service workers.
“Akmal Saleh, along with many other politicians must be made to realise that such ‘cultural practices’ are not free from criticism especially when they have been proven time and time again to be exploited as a vehicle for corruption to take place and must be discouraged and eliminated at all levels of government.”
On March 29, FMT reported Akmal as saying that there is nothing wrong with giving out envelopes filled with money (duit raya) to police personnel as this was his personal contribution to the police force and civil service every Ramadan to show his appreciation for their services.
Stating that this was a practice he had maintained since before joining politics, Merlimau assemblyman said the money was derived from his clinic’s profits and did not involve government funds. – April 5, 2024
Main pic credit: Facebook/Akmal Saleh
