ACA Should Not Blame Malaysia?s "Fail" Grade In CPI

Press Statement By DAP National Vice-Chairman Lim Guan Eng During The PAS Ceramah In Krubong, Melaka On 9.30pm 19.9.2000 Released By DAP Headquarters In Petaling Jaya.

The Anti-Corruption Agency(ACA) Should Not Blame Malaysia's "Fail" Grade In The Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index(CPI) On Opposition Parties Politicising Corruption But Admit The Lack Of Political

===========================================================

Malaysia's "fail" grade in the Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index(CPI) shows the failure of the Anti-Corruption Agency(ACA) in fighting corruption in Malaysia. Malaysia position in the Corruption Perception Index(CPI) slipped from 32nd last year to 36th this year. Worse Malaysia obtained 4.8 points from 5.1 points last year out of 10 points for highly clean and 0 for highly corrupt.

It is sad that the ACA Director-General instead of admitting ACA's failure yesterday, blamed Malaysia's "fail' grade on opposition parties for politicising corruption. The ACA should admit that lack of political will by the government against corruption isanother principle cause for worsening corruption in Malaysia.

Opposition parties are only carrying out their duties in highlighting corruption, financial malpractices and abuse of power. ACA should be thankful and not criticise opposition parties for co-operation given to ACA by providing information.

For instance, the DAP has been the forefront of opposing corruption whether it is the Perwaja RM10 billion scandal or the Melaka State Government's RM105 million missing accounts or the RM1.2 million Melaka Foundation spending on luxury items such as a RM25,000 door or a RM10,000 aquarium instead of its stated purpose of providing financial aid to poor students to further their studies. Such wastage of public funds has deprived Malaysians of much needed development funds.

Datuk Dr Ling Liong Sik Should Practice What He Preaches That "When The Fish Rots, The Rot Starts From The Head" By Resigning As Transport Minister. The President of Malaysia Transparency International, Tunku Abdul Aziz, had also cited the "flying license" scam as a cause for Malaysia's "fail" grade. Most Malaysians are unable to understand how the Transport Department or JPJ does not know for so long that 100,000 bogus licenses in Malaysia have been issued or are "flying" around.

If we follow what the Transport Minister Datuk Dr Ling Liong Sik likes to say that "when the fish rots, the rot starts from the head", it is clear who bears the greatest responsibility. Datuk Dr Ling Liong Sik should practice what he preaches that "when the fish rots, the rot starts from the head" by resigning as Transport Minister immediately.

-LIM GUAN ENG-