So, you think Shamsul, the chief secretary was lying? Let’s do this analysis together
In a recent article by Malaysiakini, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar has reportedly defended Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim saying that there was no attempt by Anwar to delay the disclosure of findings in the investigation into MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s share ownership.
Before you roll the eyes, saying that “Shamsul must be lying,” let us just put on our analytical hat for a moment, so that we are not drawn further into the bonfire as this social experiment suggests, and I see this happening in Malaysia.
1) By quoting Shamsul’s dismissal of the March 30 allegations as "untrue," it becomes clear that the Chief Secretary was not acting unprompted. Rather, his statement served as a necessary clarification following claims that the Prime Minister had interfered in the investigation into Azam Baki’s shareholdings.
Shamsul’s response is well within the scope of his work. As the primary witness in this case, he is the most credible person to respond as it is not a “hearsay” statement that he is uttering. The official response came from someone who is tasked to investigate the MACC Chief Commissioner, Azam Baki; if anybody, he is the one who knows whether Anwar had interfered with the investigation.
As a chemist, one of the skills that we develop over the years is the ability to analyse unknown chemicals. We are often given a problem to solve. To find out the nature of the “mystery” chemical, we have to carry out a series of experiments, run spectrophotometry tests, to break down the product and then reassemble it together to make an intelligent guess what the chemical is.
So, let us breakdown the story in Malaysiakini, and analyse it.
1) By quoting Shamsul’s dismissal of the March 30 allegations as "untrue," it becomes clear that the Chief Secretary was not acting unprompted. Rather, his statement served as a necessary clarification following claims that the Prime Minister had interfered in the investigation into Azam Baki’s shareholdings.
Shamsul’s response is well within the scope of his work. As the primary witness in this case, he is the most credible person to respond as it is not a “hearsay” statement that he is uttering. The official response came from someone who is tasked to investigate the MACC Chief Commissioner, Azam Baki; if anybody, he is the one who knows whether Anwar had interfered with the investigation.
Who would a judge listen to, if this were in the court? For sure, the judge would listen to the witness himself, instead of a an unreliable person who hears it being uttered by a third party. A lot of the allegations currently being circulated on social media are “hearsay” and created merely as a perception by Cybertroopers, whose task is mainly to bring down PMX and Azam Baki, probably employed by people whose great wealth Azam and his team are currently investigating.
It is not surprising but even this has been exposed officially by none other than the Inspector-General of Police, Datuk Seri Khalid Ismail. An international consultancy is hired to put together a communication plan to send out sound bites that they hope will eventually influence many to force PMX to step down. Later, when I have time, I will put together my observations about the current trends that are noticeable.
Unfortunately, PMX is in a much stronger position because the country has made much progress within just three years. The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has for the first time in Malaysian history the chief of armed forces, no small fry. At the same time, Anwar has a stronger grassroots base compared to Abdullah Badawi whose UMNO had become more of a pro-Mahathir (UMNO Baru) party, with only few of his own supporters from Team B remaining within the party. This is the reason why Anwar’s own “enemies” within UMNO who were afraid that he would rise to premiership, are now still afraid because here is a man who understands the internal politics of UMNO from within.
Back in 1998, while they were plotting, Anwar was having tea with his grassroots supporters in Permatang Pauh. Till today, PMX is still very much a grassroots person. That is why even his method of priming up the country’s economy is based on Sara Hidup, based on a bottoms-up model, by pumping money into the system to first benefit the ordinary rakyat instead of spending on mega projects that only benefit the elites.
The Prime Minister’s initial 100 days were marked by a distinct "pro-B40" agenda. This was physically manifested in the hawker stall upgrades; for instance, the Tuesday evening market in Section 17, Petaling Jaya, is now lined with consistent yellow tents, projecting uniformity in the line up of hawker stalls, that have replaced the previous rundown structures.
Furthermore, his visits to dilapidated police quarters sent a clear signal to the senior ranks of the Royal Malaysian Police: the welfare of junior officers must be a priority. Notably, despite his own past history with the force’s former leadership, the Prime Minister demonstrated a clear distinction between the institution and the individuals within it. While his interventions regarding water security in states like Kelantan, Kedah and Sabah further illustrate this focus, I will pivot now to the second main point of this discussion.
(2) As chief secretary, Shamsul has a reason to defend PMX, even to the extent of lying just to cover up for PMX. Is this true?
Just think about it. If it is true, Shamsul can be charged for malfeasance. However, Shamsul is a senior Civil servant while PMX is a politician. If PMX had indeed instructed Shamsul to delay the disclosure of Azam’s shareholding, lying to the public would almost destroy Shamsul’s reputation for the rest of his life. Even after he retires, he will be remembered for this act of lying while in office. I take it that you are in a right mind. Would you in a right mind do this just to defend one man, and destroy your own reputation for the rest of your life?
Life will go on for Shamsul even after he retires and Anwar will no longer be the Prime Minister. I don’t think PMX wants to go beyond his second term as prime minister. He just wants to complete his God-given mission to turn Malaysia into a rainbow (promising and standing tall) nation that many have been praying for. The hope of the people after the country was once devastated by the flood of corruption; this same hope is now restored when people see the rainbow, meaning a better world is ahead. people can now breathe fresh air.
Therefore, if Shamsul is lying to protect Anwar’s wrongdoing, there is no guarantee that it will not be exposed or even evidence fabricated to implicate him, Shamsul in his right mind would not risk damaging his own reputation. Putting yourself in his shoes, would you do that especially denying it categorically in the way he did in the article?
As the person in charge, he is saying that all the investigations are following strictly the Public Officers (Conduct and Discipline) regulations 1993. In short, the investigation is not arbitrary. It follows a very strict set of established processes and procedures that must be followed. Civil servants, especially the chief secretary himself understand what it is not to follow the mandatory procedures and processes in probing a public officer. I therefore, want to leave you with this thought: Can he and the investigation officers afford not to follow these procedures themselves knowing that they, too, can be charged for malfeasance and losing their jobs, and their pensions? Most Civil servants look forward to the pensions.
(3) Bloomberg’s article is based on hearsay; therefore, if the case is brought before the court of law, it is highly likely that Bloomberg will have to bow out unless the journalist has a mountain of evidence to prove Shamsul act of malfeasance. Bloomberg’s latest article only confirms that an international media consultancy is at work to destabilise the government, and apply pressure on PMX to step down. Aren’t we familiar with the modus operandi of a former prime minister in removing Tunku Abdul Rahman, and subsequently, Abdullah A. Badawi, and even caused the collapse of an elected government in 2018, whose handle should have been passed on to the legitimate prime minister-in-waiting? Malaysians must not forget that Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail could have become the prime minister, considering that she was the president of a bigger coalition than the Bersatu party led by Dr Mahathir Mohamad himself. Today, the Malays have seen through the despicable old fox, and they have thrown him out of Langkawi.
Who do you as an ordinary citizen believe? Dr Mahathir, or Shamsul as the new chief secretary, who has worked hard on looking for the right people to head certain government agencies? I have more faith in Shamsul himself, as I have seen underperforming government agencies being changed with those who are more promising.
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