(Decorative Picture)
By Daniel John Jambun, President Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) takes note of the statement by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Abdul Halim Aman regarding the completion of the new MACC building in Sabah, which is expected to enhance the Commission’s operational capabilities and reinforce its role as an independent enforcement agency.
BoPiMaFo welcomes investments that strengthen the institutional capacity of the MACC and support its mission of combating corruption.
However, Sabahans should not mistake new infrastructure for institutional effectiveness.
The true measure of an anti-corruption agency is not the size of its headquarters or the sophistication of its facilities, but its willingness and ability to enforce the law fairly, consistently and without fear or favour.
THE RULE OF LAW MUST APPLY EQUALLY
Public confidence in the fight against corruption rests on one fundamental principle: that no individual is above the law.
Investigations must be carried out professionally, independently and without political interference. Where there is sufficient admissible evidence of criminal wrongdoing, prosecutions should proceed regardless of a person’s office, influence or connections.
Conversely, where the evidence is insufficient, no one should be unfairly accused or prosecuted.
This commitment to equal justice is the foundation upon which credible anti-corruption institutions are built.
SELECTIVE ENFORCEMENT UNDERMINES PUBLIC TRUST
Even the most impressive building cannot overcome a public perception that enforcement is selective or inconsistent.
If Malaysians believe that some individuals are investigated and prosecuted vigorously while others are shielded from scrutiny despite similar allegations, confidence in the justice system will inevitably decline.
A credible anti-corruption framework requires transparency, accountability and equal treatment before the law.
SABAH DESERVES CLEAN, TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE
Sabah has long faced concerns relating to governance, public procurement and the management of its natural resources.
The people of Sabah deserve assurance that allegations of corruption involving any individual or institution will be investigated thoroughly, independently and impartially, and that any decision to prosecute will be based solely on the evidence and the law.
OUR MESSAGE IS SIMPLE
BoPiMaFo believes that the real strength of the MACC does not lie in bricks and mortar.
It lies in institutional integrity, professional independence and the courage to uphold the rule of law without fear or favour.
Only by demonstrating that justice is administered equally to all can public confidence in Malaysia’s anti-corruption efforts be genuinely strengthened.
