'We can only hope and pray this new MACC chief has a conscience, is God-fearing and will right all the wrongs. I am not confident, but I hope I am proven wrong.'

Abu Kassim sworn in as MACC chief

Tell the Truth: Congratulations to Abu Kassim Mohamed. Now that the eyes of the nation and the world are watching your moves, we pray that you are God-sent to right the wrongs and bring justice to those who have suffered injustice. You should not fear anyone who hinders you from doing what is right in the eyes of God and in the eyes of humanity.

However, if you behave like your predecessors, you will be scorned and no one will say anything good about you. Many have said you are the right man for the job. The nation wants you to prove it. All the best to you and may God give you courage to do what is right and just, and the wisdom to make the right choices.

Sentinal: Malaysians can only hope and pray that new MACC chief Abu Kassim Mohamed has a conscience, is God-fearing, will right all the wrongs and give back justice to the many from which it has been rudely taken away. Yes, we can only hope and pray. I am not confident, but I hope I am proven wrong.

Multi Racial: Well, I am not too optimistic that this man can make a difference. Let's hope he's got the courage to do the right things.

Bapak Toyol: What difference does it make whether this agency is headed by Ahmad Said Hamdan or Abu Kassim Mohamed? Both are beholden to Umno.

Roti John: At 48, he's too green to be the commission's chief. Don't they have any person better than him? I don't want to put my bet on him, for I will be the loser. The MACC is beyond redemption.

Keturunan Malaysia: As they say, ‘Don't count your chickens before they hatch'. As for me, I hope and pray that this one egg does hatch after so many bad eggs.

Tan Teng Wah: Without any track record recognisable as being above sloppy mediocrity coupled with discernible acts of infamy for which Abu Kassim was already a witness to a long way back, the MACC has been considered by many to be beyond redemption.

How much faith do we need to muster to place on this man who must seen to be professionally discharging his duties expected of him instead of him continuing to be a political jester?

Susah Kes: Will there be any change? Looking at the police report made against (Thai pathologist) Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, I have my doubts....

Kgan: The MACC is still under the Prime Minister's Department. It is under the control of Barisan Nasional politicians. So how can it be independent? This arrangement means any case involving the opposition will be pursued aggressively, while those involving BN politicians will be treated with velvet gloves. It has been happening all along.

I'm not saying that if you put MACC under Pakatan Rakyat, it will be any better. The point is that putting MACC under politicians from whichever side is detrimental to its independence. The MACC must report to Parliament for there to be any real will to fight corruption.

Putting it under the PM is like putting Maxis or Celcom in charge of fighting malpractices in the telco industry. Do you see the absurdity of it?

Lahore San: You know the feeling when we read a joke that we have heard before but with a slight change or twist? Well, this (the MACC) is another version of the Umnoputra joke that was once the judiciary. Since (former lord president) Abdul Hamid Omar, the judiciary has been sinking deeper and deeper into the morass of political meddling and bias.

At least the judiciary stopped pretending when they appointed Zaki Azmi, an Umno man, as chief justice. The name and institution have been changed - from the judiciary to the MACC - but the joke is still on us.

Abil: Malaysians should be wary of new person wearing a old hat. As long as politicians play dirty, some of the government agencies' credibility will suffer.

Sekigahara No Tatakai: Every new chief reporting to duty sure swears he will do lots of things. ‘I want to clear this... I want to clear that'. Cool. But when they ‘cabut' (leave), the only things they have cleared is their desks.

Nes: Don't hold your breath...