Let him who is without sin cast the first stone

In recent weeks, a number of issues have surfaced which, to me, appear to be mere attempts to discredit—if not topple—the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Even from within his coalition, chaos has begun to spin new narratives, as though the country is hearing for the first time about so-called corporate mafias. Like goats led around a bonfire, many seem to chant the same mantra blindly, each with their own motives.

Few are willing to swim against the tide, but I am prepared to stand for what I believe must be said, even if it renders me unpopular among politicians and friends. 

While I do not disagree with a Royal Commision of Inquiry to be set up to investigate the corporate mafia, what I am saying is that we all know they have always existed not only in Malaysia, but also in the Western countries; therefore, there is no necessity to hype up the issue of corpoate mafias as if it is something new, or only exists in Malaysia now during Azam Baki's tenure as Chief of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commision (MACC). 

What Else do we want?

However, on two issues, I beg to differ: 

• the pressure on Anwar to remove Azam Baki, Read this; 
• and the call for former Lord President Tun Tengku Maimun to preside over a Royal Commission on Inquiry to probe him especially with regards to the corporate mafias. Read this.

I have already stated my reasons for retaining Azam Baki. Yet it now appears that Anwar may have to bow to pressure to replace Azam as Chief Commissioner of the MACC. While I agree that no one is indispensable, and I cannot vouch for Azam’s spotless record after four decades in the civil service, he has at least delivered results. In the past, corruption stories were dismissed as hearsay. Under his leadership, however, the MACC has arrested and charged even powerful figures—two Tuns once thought untouchable.

Sometimes I find it hard to take seriously the influence of voices like Mariam Mokhtar. In the past, idealists such as her would demand, “Why is the MACC not going after the sharks; instead, they are wasting time on the ikan bilis?” Now that the net has finally been cast and the sharks are about to be hauled in, the self-professed admiral of the green army is busy strangling the fisherman who dared to throw the net.

I have often drawn a line between interference and intervention. Yet if Azam Baki and his team at the MACC are already producing results, why meddle in their work now? Intervention should only occur when they fail to do what they are tasked to do. Politicians once preached about not interfering with civil servants—now they are the very ones undermining a civil servant who is, inconveniently for some, delivering results.

In my view, Azam may not have a spotless record (after all, name me one man or woman who is blameless (either in giving or receiving some form of gratification throughout their entire career)), but results speak louder than sanctimony. That is why I challenge those who claim they have never done any wrong in the past be the ones to cast the first stones. My fellow Christian brothers and sisters would understand the significance of what I am saying - none of us, no one, can claim to be spotless. 

Even if Azam were eventually charged in court, he should be allowed to make his representation to the Attorney-General’s office for a discharge amounting to acquittal. And if found guilty, may the King be gracious to pardon him—not out of sympathy, but in recognition of the uncomfortable truth: his courage and sterling performance as the MACC head honcho, which is something that is truly praiseworthy. 

We have read so many legends of heroes who may have committed a crime, yet being pardoned by the king for their heroic acts of delivering an entire nation from the onslaught of the enemies. 

It would be nothing short of farcical if Azam were removed merely over the shares he holds. We are not even talking about hundreds of millions, or billions, but a mere RM1 to 2 million. I have heard that even an ordinary accounts clerk who lives a frugal lifestyle can have a saving of RM1 million upon retirement. If you do not believe, just read stories of how much money people can  lose in scams from their savings (easily in that quantum of a few millions); therefore, in the madness of all the political spins, be fair to the MACC chief himself. 

While I can understand that PMX is duty-bound to uphold the law and besides, Azam's term has been extended three times, my suggestion to PMX is to allow Azam to still hold an important position to oversee the critical cases which he has been guiding his team to track closely; there needs to be a continuity in the investigation of these complicated cases, until we see the repatriation of billions back to the country. I hope Anwar takes my humble advice. 

However, for ordinary Malaysians who want to join in the fight against corruption (and I believe we all have had enough of the corrupt culture in this country), I suggest we should hold back the horses and to meanwhile allow Azam to carry on with his job professionally. Otherwise, we are sending a wrong message to anyone who occupies that position as MACC chief in the future; they will learn quickly that survival depends not on integrity, but on never offending the powerful elites who pull the strings -- and surely, we do not want that either! To do that we have to revise our idealism instead of following the crowd like the case of the goats in this social experiment.