Suhakam must speak up on the new crisis of confidence over the integrity of government precipitated by Ezam’s OSA conviction, which constitute  major multiple  human rights violations,  as it should not  behave like the allegorical three monkeys  with  eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not

(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi made a very good speech on corruption  yesterday when he  opened the Ethics and Integrity Conference at National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN)  in Kuala Lumpur.  

Abdullah said the public sector must always operate with the highest standard of honesty  and integrity, that “"Nothing else will do," as the Government had zero tolerance for corruption and wanted it to be eradicated at all levels.

He said the Government possessed ample political will to ensure that the scourge is eradicated in both the public and private sectors, and that ethics and integrity should be at the core of every person.

This is the first time any top government leader in Malaysia had embraced the “zero tolerance for corruption” concept and  the new policy  should have made the 45^th National Day especially meaningful and  inspired great national expectations and  new hopes among the people that there is now a new broom to sweep out the cobwebs of graft and corrupt malpractices in the country. 

But this is not the case, for Abdullah’s “zero tolerance corruption” speech has fallen like a damp squib,  arousing hardly any interest or attention -  as the general reaction is a mighty yawn or the response: “Go Tell It To The Marines!” 

Who is to blame for the zero credibility of Abdullah’s “zero tolerance for corruption” declaration? 

Has  Abdullah a plan of action to demonstrate the government’s new-found “zero tolerance for corruption” pledge, such as naming name corruption as the No. 1 enemy  in the country and to declare total war against graft? 

Unfortunately, Abdullah’s declaration  of “zero tolerance for corruption” cannot withstand public scrutiny for a minute when the government is totally indifferent and blind to  the new crisis of confidence in  the integrity of government precipitated by the conviction and two-year jail sentence of Keadilan Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) which  sent out the outrageous message to the nation and the world that in Malaysia corruption is no crime while exposing corruption is the heinous crime.   

An easy and immediate test as to whether the government has a “zero tolerance for corruption” is whether  the Cabinet is prepared to take a stand on Wednesday to address  the greatest corruption scandal in Malaysia to mark the beginning of the 21^st century following the conviction and jailing  of Ezam under the OSA – the illegal immunities from prosecution granted to the International Trade and Industry Minister Rafidah Aziz and former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik. 

Ezam’s  conviction and jailing under the OSA have proven the genuineness of the  secret documents relating to the corruption investigations of  Rafidah and  Rahim, viz. that  the Attorney-General’s Chambers had been  satisfied that there were prima facie case to prosecute Rafidah and Rahim for multiple charges of corruption, giving rise to  the great moral and anti-corruption question - Which is the more heinous crime: offence under  the  OSA to expose corruption or corruption itself under the Anti-Corruption Act? 

A government which continues to be indifferent and  blind to this great moral and anti-corruption question forfeits all  credibility about  integrity, let alone claim to  “zero tolerance for corruption”.

I would not ask the Cabinet on Wednesday to demonstrate its new-found “zero tolerance for corruption” credentials by withdrawing the illegal immunities from prosecution granted to Rafidah and Rahim, for it simply does not  has any.

I am more  concerned about Suhakam’s silence on this great moral and anti-corruption question, and I call on Suhakam to speak up on the new crisis of confidence over the integrity of government precipitated by Ezam’s OSA conviction, which constitutes major multiple  human rights violations,  as it should not  behave like the allegorical three monkeys  with  eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not.

Suhakam  can only  remain  blind and unconcerned  about  the gross  injustices of convicting Ezam under the OSA while immunity of prosecution is granted to Rafidah and Rahim for corruption by committing  a gross dereliction of  its statutory duty  to protect and promote human rights – the rights to information, justice and good governance.

(20/8/2002)