Selecting the right people to fight graft

Corruption is an evil that must be eradicated

The reforms to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) initiated by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi are a major breakthrough in the fight against corruption. It is a very timely first step in the right direction steering the nation towards greater transparency, accountability and integrity.

Malaysians laud the setting up of the Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption (MCAC) which will come under the jurisdiction of Parliamentary committee on the prevention of corruption and guided by the Corruption prevention advisory board. The establishment of these bodies will go along way to make the MCAC independent and accountable. The enactment of new laws to protect whistle blowers and witnesses is another encouraging development in this combat against graft.

In general Malaysians are extremely pleased with the promised reforms of the judiciary, ACA and the media. These have created an unprecedented sense of hope and euphoria among the people. Furthermore the reassurance by Abdullah himself that he will not interfere with the functioning of the MCAC is very refreshing.

The people have very high expectations and we hope they will be not disappointed. We hope the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister will be acted on by all the relevant authorities to implement these reforms without delay.

Establishing the various agencies per se will not by itself bring about the intended reforms to eradicate corruption. Besides amending the existing laws to legalize these changes, there is the bigger task of picking the right people to head these bodies. There is also the need to change the people’s mindset to regard corruption as evil and therefore totally reject all such practices, however trivial they may appear.

Every organization is only as good as its leaders. It is of utmost importance that the right people are selected to lead the MCAC, Parliamentary committee and the advisory board in order to bring about this process of reformation in the fight against corruption. They must consist of people with high credibility and integrity and from all political parties and who have the passion and commitment to carry out the tasks entrusted to them without fear or favor. Most importantly they must be seen to be absolutely clean themselves. It would be ridiculous to entrust the fight against graft to corrupt leaders.

The country has enough of such capable people who are eagerly waiting to do their bit for the nation. Selection must be based purely on merits not race, creed or political alignment as the latter practice would only exclude many credible people, which would be a discredit to the nation.

Graft eradication is an arduous task that needs the concerted efforts of all, the government, politicians and the people. It is important that leaders, both political and government must set the example and must be seen to be clean and incorruptible. Unless we get such people the fight against corruption will only be futile.

Dr.Chris Anthony