Yes, Malaysia on the right track going after whistle blowers of corruption

Yes, Malaysia on the right track going after whistle blowers of corruption

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak told the media in Jakarta, Indonesia on Aug 2, 2016, that Malaysia is on the right track in spurring progress to benefit the rakyat (people).

He cited his Barisan Nasional (BN) federal government policies, such as fuel subsidy reduction and goods and services tax (GST) to support his claim that the country is on the right track (economically).

If so, why are multi-national companies (MNCs) and large corporate retail chains like Aeon Big, Parkson and The Dome closed down their outlets in Penang this year?

Aeon Big closed down its only outlet on Penang Island’s 1st Avenue (Komtar Phase 3) before the last Chinese New Year (CNY), Parkson gave up its bigger outlet in Prangin Mall (Komtar Phase 2) after CNY but retained its outlet in 1st Avenue and The Dome eatery closed down its outletin 1st Avenue recently.

The Edge Financial Daily had this week reported the closure of operations by two major technology companies in Penang, resulting in the loss of 4,000 jobs.

But it quoted Invest-in-Penang Berhad general manager Loo Lee Lian as saying the news is not as grim as it sounds for the manufacturing sector in Penang.

“While it is true that Seagate will not proceed with its initial RM1.05 billion investment in Batu Kawan on the mainland side of Penang, however, SanDisk Corp, which has been acquired by Western Digital, will continue to operate in Batu Kawan.

“There is nothing to be alarmed about it. Yes, it was a shock to us when we were informed of their (Western Digital’s and Seagate’s) move to Thailand, but it is common in the industry,” Loo said.

According to the report, Seagate had cancelled plans for a new plant on a 16.8ha plot in Batu Kawan, despite the foundation for the plant being halfway completed.

Although Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) has been falling in Penang over the past two years with the RM5.11 billion generated in 2014 in the manufacturing sector dropping to RM4.5 billion last year, Loo said the state was still the highest among all Malaysian states.

This year, the amount has dropped further with official numbers showing the FDI for the first quarter dropping by 55 per cent to RM1.1 billion from the RM2.5 billion earned for the corresponding period last year.

And Penang is acknowledged by Malaysia’s Auditor-General in its annual report as the best managed state in Malaysia.

Penang is one of the two states in Malaysia managed by Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan), not the ruling BN federal government. The other is Selangor.

And Selangor Mentri Besar (Chief Minister) Mohamed Azmin Ali was quoted by Free Malaysia Today online news portal on Aug 1, 2016, as saying the state monetary reserve is at RM3.95 billion and making steady growth.

He said the current reserve showed an increase of 21.24 per cent over the RM3.258 billion recorded on Dec 31 last year.

The current reserve figure was based on data as at July 15 this year, he told the State Legislative Assembly.

What is worrying is that both local and foreign investors are closing down or downsizing their operations in the two best managed states.

What then do you think is the real economic environment status of the other12 BN-managed states (and Federal Territories)?

Investors and businessmen make decisions based only on confidence. And confidence covers multi-fronts, meaning the government’s fiscal, economic, social and legal policies.

They are also super sensitive on fickle-minded decisions as they are turned off by risky changes in policies and enforcement without any prior warning.

And, yes, Malaysia’s national news agency Bernama reported on Aug 3, 2016, that police raided the office of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Public Prosecutor’s office, confiscating a laptop and documents.

The action is seen as going after the whistle blowers of corruption instead ofzooming in on the corrupt with full force.

Well, that sure is a right track for a progressive Malaysia and investors’ confidence, as far as exposing corruption is concerned.

Here’s what Bernama reported as published by Borneo Post online:

Police raid MACC DPP’s office, confiscate laptop, documents

August 3, 2015, Monday

PUTRAJAYA: Police raided the office of a deputy public prosecutor from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission here last night and seized a laptop computer and documents in connection with the investigation into 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), according to an MACC source.

The source said the police team, comprising 12 officers and men, was at the office of the DPP at the MACC Special Operations Division at Precinct 3 here for two hours. The team also raided the DPP’s house.

It is learnt that the documents seized included one pertaining to the investigation into SRC International Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary company of the Finance Ministry.

The DPP, who was seconded from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, was the MACC DPP in the case of five individuals who were remanded over the investigation into the 1MDB accounts.

The five men, including two individuals with the title ‘Datuk’, had been released on an MACC bond.

On July 30, 2016, the DPP was among three individuals detained by police, including a former member of the MACC Advisory Board with the title ‘Tan Sri’ and a woman, who is a member of the Financial and Administrative Secretariat of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (Special Task Force), Attorney-General’s Chambers, in connection with a libellous report by Sarawak Report news portal editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.

The three individuals had been released after police recorded their statements on the libellous report by Rewcastle-Brown.

On Aug 2, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police investigation also focused on the issue of the leakage of official government secrets, which were misused by certain parties. - Bernama