Watchdog groups: ACA, haul up 'big fishes'

The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) should show it means business by hauling up ‘big fishes' in the ocean and not just the ‘small fries' at the coastal water, anti-graft groups pressed today.

The groups described the recent spate of arrests by the ACA on politicians and civil servants was a positive sign, but said the crackdown should be expanded to those at the top level.

"I am encouraged (by the ACA move) but I'll be happier if some bigger fish and political leaders who are responsible for big-time corruption can be investigated," Transparency International-Malaysia president Ramon Navaratnam said when contacted.

There have been questions raised by the public, wondering why the arrests focused on ‘small-timers' - who were after all following the bad example of the ‘big-timers', he added.

"The credibility of the ACA could be enhanced if they are more ambitious in their campaign against corruption - (get those) in the corporate and political ocean, not those along the coastal water," Ramon stressed.

"The ACA is doing it but it's not good enough, the action taken must be proportionate to the problem. You can't douse fire with a small hose," he added.

Politicians, department heads face music

The latest in the series of arrests was Ampangan Umno deputy division chief Mohd Nor Awang from Negri Sembilan who was charged with money politics yesterday. He pleaded not guilty.

Senior government officials who had been taken to court earlier include former Immigration Department director-general Wahid Md Don, his deputy Yusof Abu Bakar and Tourism director-general Mirza Mohamad Taiyab .

Apart from that, the ACA has also arrested 65 people, including 38 from computerised vehicle inspection centre Puspakom, for alleged corrupt practice.

This was followed by the arrest of Barisan Nasional's Lenggeng state assemblyperson Mustafa Salim over the weekend for supposedly receiving a bribe from a contractor.

Two executive councillors of the Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak government were also arrested, with both claiming trial last week - coinciding with the Permatang Pauh by-election campaign in Penang.

Mohd Nazree Mohd Yunus from anti-corruption watchdog Gerak echoed Ramon's statement, saying that the arrests so far were a "good start" but more aggressive actions should be taken.

"We are satisfied with the actions so far but we think the ACA can be more aggressive and go after the high-profile figures with the prosecution power the agency has now," said the Gerak chief.

Arrests came after BN's defeat

The sentiment was shared by Tricia Yeoh, the director for local think-tank Centre of Public Policy Studies (CPPS), who noted that the actions are seemingly targeted at those at the lower levels, and even those corruption cases have become institutionalised problems.

She also questioned the timing of the arrests wondering whether it was meant to boost the government's image.

"(The series of arrests is) to create a better public image, similarly to what was being done immediately after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took power in 2003," she added.

The arrests came in the wake of BN's humiliating defeat in the Aug 26 Permatang Pauh by-election, where its candidate was defeated by PKR's Anwar Ibrahim in a landslide 15,671-majority vote.

Yeoh nevertheless said the actions taken by the ACA so far should be seen as a sign that the agency was serious and has a no-nonsense attitude to corruption.

In a bid to regain public confidence, the prime minister announced four months ago that the ACA will be a fully independent body and would be made a full-fledged commission by year-end, therefore answerable to Parliament.

The announcement came after BN's unprecedented losses in March polls, which saw Abdullah coming under pressure to quit.

The embattled premier however said at the time that he has a mandate and pledged to implement all his past promises - including fighting graft - in his second term in office.