Between 2009 and 2013, some RM57 million was involved in graft money. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, April 20, 2014.It is either the height of symbolism or just someone unclear on the concept by organising an anti-corruption run in Kuala Lumpur today
The organisers, Gerakan, managed to get Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to launch and take part in the 3km run together with 3,000 runners after a 10-minute exercise session.
And that really was it.
Last year, Malaysia inched up a slot in the Transparency International CorruptionPerceptions Index (CPI) rankings but remained in the average range, indicating the difficult fight against graft.The question really is, how does that help in the fight against corruption? Taking part in a run or running a campaign to make sure the corrupt are behind bars and leakages plugged.
Malaysia scored 50, ranking 53 out of 177 countries surveyed in 2013 compared to the 2014 score of 49 and rank of 54 out of 176 countries.
Putrajaya has spent RM983 million on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) between 2009 and 2013 and has set up special corruption courts, but the results have been paltry, recovering only RM17 million in the same period.
"Over the same period, the total amount of the graft money involved was RM57,698,540.41 and the total amount recovered in forfeiture was RM17,083,729.91.
"These came to 5.9% and 1.7% respectively compared to the budget allocated to fight graft,” Kampar MP Ko Chung Sen said last October.
So, why even bother to have a run?
Or is it quite apt since most big fishes run away from any action, as reflected by the conviction rate of major graft cases over the past few years?
The run just shows how much Putrajaya and the ruling coalition believe more in symbolism than actually doing anything to stop graft in the country.
The government must do more to fight graft than just a feel-good photo-op run. – April 20, 2014.
Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/enforcement-punishment-needed-for-graft-free-malaysia-not-a-run
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