LET’S get on with the job now that the Government has agreed to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the video clip featuring a purported conversation between a prominent lawyer and a senior judge over the appointment of judges. 

The whole world has probably seen the video clip, names have been mentioned and some have even replied to the press, mostly pleading ignorance. 

The Anti-Corruption Agency has also confirmed that statements have been recorded from the personalities implicated. 

What needs to be done now is to appoint the members of the panel, set the terms of reference and get to the bottom of the controversy. 

For most Malaysians, enough time has been spent, if not lost, over an issue that has dragged on for close to two months. 

The three-man committee comprising former Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor, social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and former Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mahadev Shankar had submitted separate reports. 

Although the three have not made public the contents of their reports, talk is that two of them believe the video clip to be authentic while one differed. However, they unanimously agreed that a royal panel should be set up. 

Tough call 

It has not been an easy task for the trio because no one has come forward to provide evidence and, unlike a royal commission, they were not vested with the power to call up witnesses. 

It has been a frustrating month for the panel members and they are justified in wanting to protect their integrity and credibility.  

Their hands may have been tied but due process has taken place. 

They have put in their recommendations and the Cabinet, after having read their reports, has agreed to the setting up of a royal commission. 

There have been insinuations, even allegations, that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been reluctant to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry, and the calls by lawyers and politicians seem to suggest that the decision was made now because of these demands. 

There should be no such reason, and no political implications from the findings of the royal panel. 

After all, if the brokering of these judges turns out to be true, it certainly did not happen during Pak Lah’s leadership. 

The video clip was recorded in 2001 and the personalities implicated were then powerful and influential people under a different regime. 

No one will argue that the judiciary needs an overhaul because its credibility has taken a bashing. 

From allegations of paid holidays for judges to predictable verdicts, many Malaysians have lost confidence in the judiciary. 

Politicians who claim they have not heard this must be hypocritical or living on another planet.  

The rot, it has been said, began when Tun Salleh Abas was sacked as Lord President in 1988 following moves to subjugate the judiciary. 

Heavy price 

What Malaysians are seeing now is the price we have paid for that fateful decision 20 years ago.  

Worse, the doctrine of the separation of powers has been severely tested – and many see it as a failure on the part of the judicial leadership. 

The Government needs to put things right and we trust Pak Lah will appoint people of integrity and credibility to investigate the video clip controversy, without fear or favour. 

Old wounds may open as a result of this investigation and names of retired leaders and judges may surface but this is a chance to clear up the mess. The first step has been taken. 

I agree with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz that there is not much wrong with our institutions, except that wrong decisions have been made. 

There will always be good and bad judges but, as an established entity, the judiciary has performed its duties well for this country. 

Let’s give the Royal Commission of Inquiry the support and the power to carry out its job.  

ONE of the hottest topics on the sidelines of the Umno general assembly last week was the next general election. The consensus among the delegates was that it would be held soon. But how soon is soon is everybody’s guess. 

December has suddenly become a popular speculated month for the polls but it is unlikely to happen. It is the haj season, where at least 60,000 Malaysians are expected to head to Mecca to perform their pilgrimage. 

The first flight to the Holy Land is on Dec 1 and, for the following two weeks, they will join the millions of other Muslims there before Hari Raya Haji on Dec 20.  

It is an important event in the Muslim calendar and it is almost definite that the Government will not call a snap election. 

Analysts, including those who work in investment banks, who picked December have obviously not taken into account the haj season. 

It will be a busy month for many government officers, especially teachers and village community leaders, even as the private sector winds up for the year. 

It’s the monsoon season and all schools and community halls have been put on standby, not for election purposes, but for flood evacuees. 

Preparing for floods 

The Meteorological Department has already warned that over the next few months, Malaysians, especially those in the east coast states, can expect floods. 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced that 4,565 centres, which can house up to 1.2 million people, have been set up nationwide for the floods. 

Kelantan, Pahang, Selangor and Johor would have the most number of relief centres, he said, adding that “normally, there is heavier rainfall in the months of December and January”. 

The first week of December is also a busy time. Over 400,000 students will sit for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination at 3,913 centres from tomorrow until Dec 6. 

These schools are often used as polling centres but, with a wet season ahead, even the Malaysian Examination Board has warned candidates to watch out for changes to the schedules of the examination due to possible floods. 

There are also two important dates on the diary of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi – he has to attend the Asean Summit in Singapore from Nov 19 to 21 before he flies to Uganda for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting between Nov 23 and 25.  

The Prime Minister has already confirmed his attendance for these two meetings and there is no indication of any change of mind. For someone who wants to dissolve Parliament, as predicted by some, then he should not be going anywhere, even for a day or two; he would be fighting a big political battle at home. 

But preparations for the elections have surely started. Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin has given his movement until the end of December to open their elections’ operation centres. 

Only a few Umno state liaison committees have opened their operations centre, which indicate that there is still some time, thus the lack of urgency. 

But Malaysians can expect the tempo to pick up beginning January. It would be difficult to keep the dates further as there would be possible issues beyond the control of the Government. 

Global woes 

Many Malaysians, long pampered by the subsidies on petrol and diesel, are not aware that the rising cost of living is a global problem and not just confined to Malaysia. The Government had to spend RM35bil on oil and gas subsidies. This is a hefty chunk of the Government’s expenditure.  

Even in Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, the price of petrol keeps changing daily, something which many Malaysian motorists are unaware of. With global oil price heading towards US$100 a barrel, the social and political impact of the rising cost cannot be discounted, particularly possible creeping inflation. 

Last week, the Singapore Straits Times reported that the central bank projected inflation to rise by between 2% and 3% next year, saying there had been rising living costs for several months now due to the new GST rate of 7%, which took effect in July, with the food component of the consumer price index for September rising 3.7%. 

The New Paper reported that motorists using the Higher Electronic Road Pricing would have to pay more now, besides higher petrol prices and parking rates. 

March has continued to be a more practical date for many but the drum beat will get louder in the first few months of 2008, when the polls would likely be held.  

More importantly, it was the voice of reason and moderation that Malaysians are familiar with.  

“We have been independent for 50 years. Those who are born in Malaysia are Malaysian citizens. They were born and have grown up knowing only Malaysia as their homeland,” he said. 

“The time for championing parochial interest is over. Issues must be addressed on the basis of the interest of the nation and the Malaysian people as a whole.”  

Opportunities in Malaysia, he pointed out, were available to all and stressed that there was a future for every Malaysian in this country.  

“Let us all build a nation that enriches every citizen, regardless of race or belief.” he said. 

The Umno president had a reminder: the harmony between the various communities and religions in this country was not a luxury option but a necessity.  

He took pains to remind his listeners, which he was well aware included the rest of the nation, that the views of one or two Umno delegates did not represent the views of the party.  

“In the spirit of building a unified nation, the consensus of moderation and mutual respect outweighs extremist tendencies,” he said. 

He devoted a large part of his speech to power-sharing, religious moderation and racial harmony.  

His speech started with a pledge to power-sharing, saying it has worked successfully for the nation for the past 52 years.  

“This achievement is testament to the party’s wise leadership and its committed wise leadership. It is the result of the cooperation we have with the non-Malay communities on the basis of power sharing and mutual understanding,” he said. 

For non-Muslims, he assured them that Umno would not endorse a narrow interpretation of Islam.  

He said overzealous enforcement would give Islam a negative image, adding that failure to understand the needs of adherents of other religions and denying them the rights would be against the spirit of the Federal Constitution.  

Realising the concerns of many, especially among the urban voters over their rights as guaranteed under the Federal Constitution, he told his party delegates that calls to return to the spirit of the Federal Constitution should be viewed positively.  

Realising that there was still the simmering effect of the keris incident from last year’s assembly, Pak Lah took on the issue directly.  

The act was part of Malay culture but it had been misunderstood and the party’s image had been tarnished overseas, he said.  

“On behalf of Umno’s leaders and members, I give assurance that Umno will never breach the spirit of the understanding that has been agreed with the other communities at the time of Merdeka,” he said. 

But he also reminded Malaysians of the deal made among the various races. The social contract, agreed by the founding fathers, was a sacred issue.  

“By the same token, other communities must appreciate the sensitivities of the Malays. Basic matters relating to the sanctity of religion, beliefs and practices, Malay interests and the social contract between the communities are sacred to us and should not be raised,” he said.  

“Similarly, the basic issues that were agreed upon at the time the Federal Constitution was drafted are non-negotiable.”  

His opportunities-for-all message continued with reassurances that economic development would not just be focused on urban areas but also in the east coast states, Sabah and Sarawak.  

In an apparent reference to PAS-run Kelantan, he said: “We put aside politics to improve the quality of life of the people and to lift them out of poverty. 

“The philosophy behind the development corridors is that no one should be left behind. Economic sectors and geographical regions that are currently lagging behind will be developed quickly.  

“Additional income and new sources of income will be generated and new sources of wealth will be harvested. When our plans succeed, it will transform the face of Malaysia.  

“Development will not just be concentrated to major urban centres, but will instead be spread to every area of our nation. This is our noble ambition.”  

The only thing missing from his speech were hints of the next general election – not a single line. But at the Putra World Trade Centre, it was the biggest talk among the delegates and many want it soon.

A visible blot appeared on his shirt but he wasn’t perturbed. He put on a smile before moving on to his next business at hand.  

Pak Lah is aware there are many expectations from his listeners.  

It would not just be the Umno delegates at the Putra World Trade Centre but Malaysians of all races.  

After all, they see the Prime Minister as their leader, not just a Malay leader and the Umno president.  

This would most likely be his final address to the delegates before the next general election is called.  

The buzzword, in his speech, is likely to be the National Mission – the need for Malaysians to look ahead, to be competitive and to always improve ourselves.  

It is important to note that this would be the first time Pak Lah is speaking to party members as the nation celebrates its 50th anniversary.  

For the past months, he has told his listeners that his wish is to see Malaysia achieve the unimaginable. The Malaysian Mission must go beyond 2020 and certainly for the next 50 years.  

If Vision 2020 is about the foundation of a developed nation, 2057 would be what it took “to distinguish ourselves in all fields and the heights to which Malaysians will scale.”  

Pak Lah had first spoken about this long-term ambition in July, prompting W. Chan Kim, one of the co-authors of the international best seller, Blue Ocean Strategy, to find out more when they met in Paris.  

In the words of the strategy management professor, he was “convinced” this was the way forward for Malaysia.  

The thrust was to think global and focus on knowledge, economic growth, political stability and genuine cohesion among the races.  

In the book, based on a study of 150 strategic moves spanning more than a 100 years and 30 industries, the authors argued that tomorrow’s leading companies will succeed not by battling competitors, but “by creating blue oceans” of uncontested market space ripe for growth.  

Abdullah is convinced Malaysia already has the foundation. The institutions are all in place. We have had our problems but we have done well as a country and more importantly, we have learnt from the past.  

He is expected to remind delegates that the Federal Constitution, drawn up by our founding fathers, must be respected.  

We have an established legal system and the Prime Minister is aware of the concerns of the people and the lawyers.  

He is likely to give his assurance that the Federal Constitution has worked well and holds Malaysians together.  

He is also expected to reaffirm his commitment to power sharing among the main communities of Malaysia.  

In fact, Pak Lah wants the power-sharing concept “to last forever” where decisions are made on a consensual basis.  

The Barisan Nasional has worked well. Unlike other coalitions, the Barisan is formed before the polls and not after the elections like in some countries, where no party has a majority to form the government.  

From the Alliance to the Barisan now, the political formula has worked although there is much to improve on and even correct.  

Well aware that some speakers were aggressive in their rhetorics during the debate on the Malay Agenda last year, no one should be surprised if Pak Lah quotes from the Quran that the rights of non-Muslims and minorities must be respected.  

But there would also be a reminder – no one should debate on the social contract, which has been agreed upon, and the special privileges of the Malays.  

At the Kuala Lumpur Business Club in June, Pak Lah said his dream was “100 years of independence, one hundred years of advancement.”  

Regardless of political and religious beliefs, no one can argue about what Pak Lah wants to strive for. It is certainly a National Mission.  

On The Beat: By WONG CHUN WAI

Be mindful – those are the words of caution to delegates attending the Umno general assembly this week as it is almost certain that this would be the last meeting before the next general election.  

After last year’s assembly where certain delegates went overboard in their rhetoric on Malay rights – and sentiments are still simmering among many Malaysians – the party leadership is determined this would not be repeated.  

It is understood that the party top brass has taken stock of the views of other Barisan Nasional leaders.  

Umno leaders are well aware that they cannot afford a repeat of last year with the elections in the horizon. Not that the anti-establishment sentiments in urban areas would hurt Umno. Not even a bit, as Umno is probably at its strongest, despite what has been written in the blogs.  

There is no real challenge from PAS and Parti Keadilan Nasional. If there is any anxiety over how the Umno general assembly would be conducted, it would be on the part of the MCA and Gerakan.  

The 2008 elections would nowhere be like the 1999 polls, where Umno depended heavily on Chinese and Indian votes to pull through.  

This time, the anti-establishment votes would likely only be in the predominantly Chinese constituencies in Penang, Perak and the Klang Valley.  

Over the past week, two senior Umno leaders have advised Chinese voters against voting for the opposition.  

Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said the Chinese voters would only be shooting themselves in the foot if they voted for the DAP or PKR as the community would only reduce its representation in government.  

In short, the Barisan government isn’t going to collapse and Umno is not going to lose seats in the 219-seat Dewan Rakyat.  

With only about 25 to 30 parliamentary seats with a strong Chinese electorate, the hardest hit would be the MCA and Gerakan if there is a swing to the opposition while Umno with its dependence on the rural heartland would win hands down.  

In an interview with Nanyang Siang Pau last week, Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib urged the Chinese to look at the big picture.  

He said they should not vote against the Barisan because they were unhappy with certain policies and wanted to “punish certain parties”.  

Muhammad said the community should not harbour the notion of teaching the Barisan a lesson.  

If the Chinese were to reject the Barisan in total because of certain policies, it would be akin to not seeing the forest for the trees, adding that it would affect their own interest in the long run.  

What Muhammad did not say bluntly was this – if you want to teach Umno a lesson, forget it, you can’t and, instead, you would just end up punishing the MCA or Gerakan.  

With the Chinese population dropping to 25% and likely to shrink further, Chinese voters are at a crossroads, as the Malay community is likely to grow up to 80% in the coming years.  

The Indian population has also continued to drop and, at present, there is not a single Indian majority parliamentary seat.  

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has given his commitment on power sharing but it cannot be denied that politics is also a numbers game.  

The MCA’s biggest challenge this election would be to convince the voters that their representation in government is crucial for the community.  

It would have to deal with the grouses of the community, many of which are not the doing of the MCA, but these issues would nevertheless have an impact on the voting trend.  

The Chinese community has always wanted the best of both worlds – the MCA to represent them in government and to handle their problems and the opposition to shout for them.  

The MCA’s method of resolving issues behind closed-doors, despite its effectiveness, does not seem sufficient.  

But at the Umno general assembly, where the largest attendance would be seen, it will be a show of unity this week.  

Ready to face the polls, the issues that would concern the delegates would be the political and economic rights of the Malays, and religion.  

The majority of the delegates are not going to be riled up over unhappy lawyers or a video clip.  

For the non-Malay voters watching from the sidelines, it would be an important lesson in “realpolitik”, a German political term which means practical considerations are more important than ideological notions.  

Peaceful surroundings: The goings-on at Bukit Aman can only be described as unprecedented and a scary development.

On Tuesday, Ramli came out in the open and admitted that he was the so-called RM27mil cop that the media had kept referring to in their reports on the probe. 

Clearly angry and even bitter, Ramli, 55, who is set to retire in March, blasted the ACA, the Attorney-General and the police for the manner in which they had carried out their investigations. 

Ramli knows the law well. He has a law degree from the International Islamic University and a Masters law degree from the University of London. He is also married to a Sessions Court judge. 

Ironically, Ramli who rose from the ranks of a constable, was at one time the boss of the current Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan. But they are now engaged in an open feud. 

Sitting with a group of senior officers, Ramli said he had nothing to hide and that his sources of income – buying and selling properties including shares – were all declared under oath.  

There is more than this dramatic revelation. On Oct 25, Sergeant-Major Hasan Aman, 49, and ASP Hong Keng Hock, 42, were charged at the Malacca Sessions Court with falsifying witness statements. 

Hong and Deputy Supt Baharin Mohd Rose, 52, were charged in Kuala Lumpur, also with using false documents, against businessman Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku. Two days later, the duo, who are with the CCID, were charged with falsifying a witness statement in Pulai on June 5.  

Again, the charges have been unprecedented and some security and political analysts have even described the developments in the police force as worrisome with talk that there are factions supported by different powerful political personalities. 

Deputy Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow has dismissed talk there is a “war” between the police and the Internal Security Ministry, in replying to Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang who said from press reports, it sounded as if there was a power play between the ministry and the police. 

Fu’s statement, in downplaying the issue, is understandable, as the stability of the institution needs to be protected. It is the job of the police to maintain the security and peace of the nation.  

After all, the police headquarters is located at Bukit Aman and as the name suggest, the Government and the people have high expectations of the police force, particularly in keeping the country safe. 

But in August, IGP Musa startled the country when he revealed that he had been framed by his own men and warned his colleagues not to abuse their powers. 

It was a loaded remark from the top policeman and on the same day he spoke to the media, two packages containing 12-gauge shotgun cartridges were found addressed to him. The parcels, which also contained a threatening note, were discovered by workers at the Bintulu post office. 

No one is sure whether the so-called efforts to topple him and the parcel were related but one thing is for sure, the IGP's post is a hot seat. And no one can deny thetalk of disunity within the top brass of the force. 

Many policemen have found it hard to deal with Musa – he has cracked the whip, declared war against graft and transferred certain senior officials.  

He has also insisted that all policemen wear the Saya Anti-Rasuah badges on their uniforms. 

Musa has also made it compulsory for all policemen to declare their assets every six months and the lifestyles of his officers have also come under scrutiny.  

If they were to buy or sell property, Musa has ordered them to update their records.  

The sentiment is that Musa has been over-zealous in his task with some openly making known their displeasure of the regular transfers.  

Others said there can never be a quick-fix solution in the police force, where corruption has been long been an issue. It is well known that angry letters have been sent to Musa. 

His actions have hurt him, and he has been subjected to all kinds of allegations on the Internet. But the ACA has cleared him. 

More important, he has the Prime Minister’s backing. Musa has to accept the fact that in any organisation, there will always be resentment, jealousy and envy.  

Still, the power play is somewhat scary, if not macabre, to most Malaysians who have never witnessed such open tension within the police force.  

Maybe it’s Halloween but the can of worms being opened is disturbing, nevertheless.  

Allegations of judges on holiday with business tycoons to a prominent lawyer brokering appointments of top judicial positions have seriously harmed the image of the judiciary.  

Some have even questioned the integrity of our system in certain murder trials, claiming serious irregularities. 

These allegations may have no basis and in some instances, may have come about due to the lack of legal knowledge of the public.  

Nevertheless, they have tarnished the image of the judiciary and could lead to the erosion of public confidence in the institution.  

On Monday, the Sultan of Perak addressed the 14th Malaysian Law Conference and said such allegations had “grieved” him as he was once a member of the judiciary, adding that “recently, there have even been more disturbing events relating to the judiciary reported in the press.” 

There was more plain talk from him – he pointed out the unprecedented act of a former Court of Appeal judge writing in his post-retirement book about erroneous and questionable judgments delivered by the higher courts. 

He also cited a case of medical negligence involving the death of a lawyer which took 23 years to reach the Court of Appeal, saying there have also been reports that some judges had taken years to write their grounds of judgment involving accused persons who had been convicted and were languishing in death row. 

We have a serious problem, as Sultan Azlan said – there are perceptions that our judges are not independent and worse, incompetent. 

He has correctly stated that “nothing destroys more the confidence the general public, or the business community has in the judiciary, than the belief that the judge was biased when he decided a case, or that the judge would not be independent where powerful individuals or corporations are the litigants before him.” 

In short, the public must never perceive that there are two sets of law – one for the powerful and one for the ordinary people.  

The average Malaysian must never assume that the odds are against him in court because the judge would favour those with political or business influence. Impartiality, in a nutshell, is the core of any judiciary. 

Some of us may not like to hear this but more and more we keep hearing this, with many cynically predicting the court decisions of certain cases, even before the verdicts are delivered. 

There have been one or two surprising judgments over the past few years but they are not enough to restore public confidence, even if our politicians are quick to cite these cases to point out that the independence of the judiciary is intact. 

Malaysians do not want our judges to be anti-establishment to be deemed independent. Far from it.  

What they are seeking are fair and just judges. If we may add, sound and competent ones too, who also take time to back their written judgments with proper citations. 

It is important to note that Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has responded positively to the call by the Bar Council and Malaysians, in general, to reform the judiciary.  

The Prime Minister said the Government and the Bar Council were “on the same side and fighting for the same issues but with different style.”  

His amicable approach is in sharp contrast to the statements made by one or two ministers, which seem to smack of arrogance with their quick defensive, but often simplistic, dismissal of any proposal to reform the judiciary. 

The “I know better than you, so shut up” line only works against the Government as many of these calls are genuine.  

Many are made by lawyers and voters who support the leadership. Malaysia would have a competitive edge over other countries if businessmen and investors believe that our legal system, which has been well established, is impartial. But when they start turning to arbitration, then it is something we need to pay serious attention to and ask ourselves why they prefer this route.  

It is a blow to read that a recent World Bank survey on resolution of commercial disputes ranked Malaysia poorly, 63rd amongst 178 countries. Hong Kong is placed first and Singapore ranks fourth. Ironically, both inherited the British legal system like Malaysia. 

Sultan Azlan has also pointed out that judges must be mindful that they are appointed judges of all Malaysians and must be sensitive to the feelings of all Malaysians regardless of their race, religion and culture. 

There is a perception that some judges may put their religion or race first when hearing cases involving religion or that they are seen to pass the buck by refusing to make a decision, preferring to pass that responsibility to another court. 

The Bench has to realise that, more than ever, judges would also be judged when they deliver their judgments. 

On The Beat
By WONG CHUN WAI

THERE he goes again. As if on cue, Jerai MP Datuk Badruddin Amiruldin pulled yet another of his publicity stunts at the Dewan Rakyat last week. Malaysians, it seems, just have to expect him to utter outrageous remarks. 

Last week, the recalcitrant politician was grabbing the headlines again for the wrong reason. He doesn’t really deserve the publicity but the media find it difficult not to report on any verbal slugfest in Parliament. 

In the clash with Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, he charged that the opposition politician’s use of a wheelchair was a punishment from God. 

Badruddin’s remarks were uncalled for and although he has apologised and retracted his remarks, he should not be let off without any warning from his Umno leaders. 

This is not the first time he has taken on the court jester’s role and we can assume it won’t be the last, unless he is not picked to contest in the next general election, or he loses his seat. 

He has provoked a woman MP by asking “what type of man would last with someone like the MP from Batu Gajah?” and blamed women with “indecent clothes” for rape, forgetting that those wearing the tudung (headscarf) and even grandmothers are among the victims. 

Badruddin has reportedly also used vulgar words in the Dewan Rakyat, a reminder made by Karpal Singh, which led to the clash between the two. 

Lacking in finesse 

During the heated debate, he said the DAP leader was in no position to lecture him as the latter had called MPs “animals”.  

“Dia panggil orang binatang, dia panggil macam-macam. Yang Berhormat sendiri kena bersopan santun kalau mahu ajar orang, kalau Yang Berhormat sendiri pun dah perangai macam itu dengan berkerusi roda, ini Tuhan telah tunjukkan kepada Yang Berhormat.” 

That led to an uproar, with other opposition MPs joining in the fray, and both sides trading accusations, saying the remark was an affront to the disabled, and with Badruddin telling Karpal Singh that “kepala Yang Berhormat sudah jem tak baik, tak baik”. 

Meanwhile, Karpal Singh kept repeating the profanity used by Badruddin, saying it was in the Hansard despite the latter’s denial. 

Such disregard for parliamentary decorum is most disappointing. Badruddin is not the only one, because the other elected representatives who lack finesse, or class, to put it clearly, include Datuk Bung Mokhtar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) and Datuk Mohd Said Yusuf (BN-Jasin). 

They are an embarrassment to the Barisan Nasional and the Government. They may make headlines but Malaysians expect better quality debate from our legislators. To put it bluntly, they are making a fool of themselves and, as taxpayers, we are not amused that we are paying their allowances. 

Of course, some Opposition MPs are no better. Karpal Singh is no angel and Badruddin is right in implying that the pot should not call the kettle black because the veteran politician also has a record of name-calling. Karpal Singh, he said, had used words like bodoh (stupid) and lembu (cow) on his fellow MPs. 

In fact, reporters covering the Dewan Rakyat will tell you that Karpal Singh does not do much research on his speeches but he makes the news because of his rhetoric in the Dewan Rakyat. Not to forget his suspensions and walkouts. 

Last year, PAS MP Abdul Fatah Harun created a ruckus when he said that women divorcees were gatal (randy), saying he noticed that single mothers did not look like they were sad about their divorce. 

He said this was based on his observation at gatherings and parties, adding that these women seemed to be gatal. 

The talk in the Dewan Rakyat lobby and canteen, among the lawmakers and press, is that some of these MPs from rural and semi-rural constituencies are not the least worried about being criticised by the English press or bloggers. 

Their supporters reason that they have a grip on their rural voters and that their rhetoric has no political backlash at all as such news do not reach their voters. 

If this is the reasoning, this assumption is certainly an insult to their electorate because we would like to believe that the voters would also judge them on their parliamentary performance and not merely be grateful for their contributions to the village functions. 

Same old excuse 

Malaysian voters are also tired of MPs who give the excuse that when they argue aggressively in the Dewan Rakyat, they are doing so to defend their race and religion. Such justification, to intimidate opponents, is unwarranted. 

The irony of last week’s controversy was that it started off with Karpal Singh attacking the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) of being irrelevant, claiming there were now perompak (robbers) and conmen in the party. 

With parliamentary privilege before him, he named the leaders in that category and, within minutes, he had moved on to Badruddin on the question of conduct. Or misconduct, as we think so. 

As Malaysians, we have a reminder for our politicians – think before you speak. Use your head because utterances which smack of insensitivity and ignorance can be used against you during the polls.  

So, can Malaysian taxpayers see some arrests this week or the subsequent weeks now that the holidays are over?  

It has been reported that the officials being investigated were from at least two ministries said to have bought equipment that were “overly priced”, causing the government losses of millions of ringgit.  

Malaysians would certainly like to see the culprits hauled to court as we are fed up with the mismanagement of public funds.  

We taxpayers would certainly like to know the person or persons responsible for using our money to pay RM224 for a RM32 set of screwdrivers.  

Let’s also see the faces of those who approved RM1,146 for a set of pens costing RM160 and RM5,700 for a car jack worth RM50, as outlined in the 2006 A-G’s report.  

The Government also paid RM8.36mil more than the market price to buy items, including technical books, for the National Youth Skills Institutes.  

Two helicopters worth RM117.76mil purchased by the police air wing could not be used as they did not meet specifications, yet another RM15.4mil was spent to train pilots to fly these helicopters.  

The Customs Department under-utilised its RM290mil information technology system but was planning to spend another RM451.30mil on a new system.  

Trail of abuse 

Surely there must be a trail that reveals misdeeds that the ACA can track and book these culprits.  

It has been reported that the ACA probe would be centred on three aspects. One was whether government officers had received bribes from parties in the private sector.  

The agency was also investigating if anyone had made false claims and also if those who had been recorded as having received money had actually received it.  

The investigation, it was reported, would also ascertain if the number of items supplied to the government department or agency concerned matched the numbers ordered.  

We understand and appreciate the necessity of the ACA to cover their tracks to ensure a solid case against the offenders but we hope there will be quick action against those responsible.  

It would also be meaningless if only the ikan bilis or small fries are arrested in this exercise. The ministries should at least apologise for these fiascos if the senior officials who once headed these ministries have been transferred to other agencies or bodies.  

The refusal to take responsibility seems to be an ugly culture of some of our senior officers, who prefer to maintain their silence in the hope that such controversies would blow over once the media lose interest.  

Not many senior officials have resigned for their failures, unlike those in Japan, despite Malaysia having adopted the Look East policy for over 20 years. It doesn’t help that among civil servants, some perceive that their political masters are not clean and had probably made more on the take.  

But Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has sent word down that civil servants who waste public funds should be punished and, if there are elements of corruption, they should be charged.  

He has told his listeners, including editors, that he encouraged media reports highlighting such abuses and wanted action taken.  

It has been a double-edged sword for Pak Lah as such openness has caused much uneasiness among the powerful and influential, who are not used to such scrutiny from the top. While there have been similar A-G reports in the past, the standard practice of leaving it to the ACA to probe has shown little, if any, results.  

Dented image 

The opposition has also used the A-G reports to hit out at the leadership and, as a result, has dented the leadership’s image. Certainly there would be a political price, especially in urban areas, during the elections.  

But without doubt, Pak Lah is determined to go after those who do not practise good governance in government.  

For a start, the ministries and agencies must improve their internal audit systems of checks and balances. They must learn to have more efficient controls on financial expenditures as they need to realise that the A-G would eventually catch up on them.  

A strong message from the leadership that those who foul up would be punished should help inculcate such a working culture. Certainly there should be preventive action but the public rightly wants to see punitive action too.  

It is no good merely transferring offenders, particularly those suspected of graft, to another section or other agencies.  

A few years back, a complaint was made against a Customs officer who asked for money without issuing a receipt and, although the case was highlighted by the media, the person was merely transferred to another desk.  

Malaysians want to see action and offenders penalised. That’s surely fair.