YOURSAY | ‘This regime is substantially no different from the kleptocracy we know.’

Country will pay the price for backroom court deals - Credit Suisse

Kim Quek: From the very weak and vague ground given by the attorney-general (AG) to acquit former minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Ku Nan), any fool can smell the foul of this daring raid against our justice system and rule of law.

From its timing that coincided with the Perak crisis, one cannot help but feel that this could be a desperate act of quid pro quo by this teetering regime to avert an imminent fall.

If this regime can get away with such “daylight robbery” against our justice system with impunity, which is the third such case, it may open the floodgates to set free many other similar VVIP criminals already roped in by our legal net. And that will be disaster for the country.

It demonstrates how urgent it is that this wobbly backdoor government must be replaced before it inflicts further damage.

MS: The deliberate dismantling of all checks and balances over the decades following Dr Mahathir Mohamad's ascension to power plus the politicisation of all critical functions - a salient feature of ‘politik melayu’ - is the root cause of the wheeler-dealer regimes we are saddled with.

Nothing is sacred anymore; everything may be sacrificed at the altar of expediency. Which is why this regime is substantially no different from the kleptocracy we know.

The worst thing about the situation the country is in is that the decline will be slow and steady - a slow lingering death and painful in ways not yet experienced.

Appum: We need more (Credit Suisse Malaysia managing director and head of equities) Stephen Haggers to voice out our self-inflicted wounds.

But still, the government thinks it can attract big-time FDIs (foreign direct investments) to come in. They think the outside world is ignorant of what is happening here.

Yes, foreigners always think that Malaysians are very friendly people like Thais. But when it comes to politicians and approving authorities, they have a different perspective. You only need a verdict like this to ruin our competitive edge over other countries.

But who cares? As far as the politicians are concerned, they don't. What does a Fitch Ratings downgrade mean to the rural folk or even urbanites? They just don't understand that kind of implications. They only understand - and be taken in - by the lies their leaders ditch out to them.

B Lee: At long last, someone dared to say it out loud to let the whole world knows that this country is run by a government which indulges on backroom dealings.

Jaycee: Indeed, these government officials do not care so long as their pockets are continuously lined. Their greed is insatiable and it is never enough.

And why do you think they continue to grab and hang on to power? To serve the people? The country can get a BBB+ rating from Fitch and this is not going to bother them.

This corruption has been going on for over 60 years and few corrupt officials have been thrown in jail. And when they leave the position, they will groom their children to run for office and continue the looting.

Oriole: Yes, we have international agencies marking Malaysia as a ‘failed state’ now. Malaysians are to pay the price so that some rich men in power can continue to enjoy wealth and power.

All the ‘macais’ and cybertrooper dolts supporting this tinpot regime better be aware that these men are depriving your future generations of a decent way of life.

They play up your race and religion to keep you in feudal gratitude to them while stealing from you and from your children. Keep licking their boots while they keep you in perpetual slavery.

Mohd Bakri 3: From A- to BBB+ is only one level, so to some, this is no big deal because as they say the ends justify the means. This downgrade is the ends and the means were that some were rewarded along the way.

Malaysian Bulldog: The AG surely needs to answer for this blatant disregard for upholding the law. So, the giver of bribe is guilty but the alleged receiver is not?

FlabberPro: We all are able to see the grave consequences of corruption which has befallen our country.

Sadly, our current slew of politicians is not there to rescue the country from nosediving any further. They seem to hold their post to satisfy their craving for power, wealth and status.

Talk about the suffering of the rakyat, you only get Muslim preacher Ebit Lew going around doing that which is noble, regardless of race, religion and age.

Our politicians are only there to enrich themselves. Some are not even qualified for the job. Indeed, the country will pay, if not already.

Hrrmph: Someone needs to tell the finance minister that his economic stimulus measures will not work because he is not attending to the issue that is dragging our economy down.

If there is a boil in your nether regions, applying salve to your arms and legs does not cure that boil.

2,607 civil servants arrested for corruption since 2015, says MACC

PW Cheng: A total of 2,607 civil servants were arrested for corrupt practices from 2015 to October this year, said by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Five years and 2,607 arrested for corruption – this translates to an average of 521 per year or 0.000326% of the 1.6 million-strong civil service, not counting DBKL (Kuala Lumpur City Hall) and local councils. This is ridiculous.

Freethinker: It’s also not only about how many people you arrest but how many actually prosecuted and jail/fine for the crime.

Oriole: Hello, no surprises here. Read the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) reports year after year over the decades on questionable public sector expenditure. But after the reports, no further action.

So, this is just another story. The public will be riled up for a short while and then the story goes away, and all the crooks go happily back to plundering public coffers.

MACC, fish rots from the head. How about starting by ensuring that the highest offices in the land are clean first.

Seeing Putrajaya's leaders and ex-leaders get away with corruption involving huge sums will only inspire copy-cat behaviour in local government and councils. What are you doing about ensuring justice gets done there first?

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