Structural changes needed to prevent more deaths

Opposition groups today called for drastic changes and action to prevent the recurrence of tragedies such as the deaths in Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) custody of Teoh Beng Hock and Ahmad Sarbani Mohamed.

In a statement, PKR Youth said among the first changes should be that of the chain of command whereby the MACC currently answers to no one but the prime minister.

This, said the wing, has led to the wide space for abuses to occur without reprisal.

“The absolute power given to the prime minister, although provided for in the MACC Act 2008 as in Section 2, Article 5 (1) accords the Yang DiPertuan Agong upon the advice of the prime minister to appoint the MACC chief commissioner unconditionally and for whatever time period stipulated by the prime minister,” PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin (above).

“Improvements to the MACC system need to be carried out urgently as the image of the institution has been marred not only in the eyes of Malaysians but the whole world,” he added.

Shamsul Iskandar said the Independent Commission Against Corruption in Hong Kong and Singapore’s Corrupt Practice Investigation Bureau provide good models for Malaysia to follow.

In addition to place the MACC under the watch of Parliament, PKR Youth also urged the set up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission to prevent abuse and heavy-handedness by the authorities.

They also called for a Royal Commission of Inquiry to be constituted into the death of Customs officer Ahmad Sarbani.

Ahmad Sarbani, 56, was one of 62 Customs officers arrested early this month over allegations of graft and money-laundering.

Released a day and a half after being detained, Ahmad Sarbani returned to the MACC Kuala Lumpur headquarters for a meeting, only to be found dead last Wednesday after purportedly falling from the third floor.

This comes just as a royal commission of inquiry is being held into the death of Teoh Beng Hock, whose body was found in July in 2009 the morning after he was interrogated by MACC officers over alleged abuse of state government funds.

Selangor PKR, similarly, called for limits to be placed on the powers of statutory bodies such as MACC and the police to interrogate, investigate and prosecute by legal, logical and humanitarian considerations.

“Enforcement of the laws crazily without any controls or humanitarian consideration will not only not gain the support of the people but will be abused, as seen in the acts of the Nazi Gestapo who, ultimately, resorted to assaulting, kidnapping and killing the (German) people,” said Selangor PKR information chief Shuhaimi Shafiei (above).

PAS Youth demanded a full and transparent investigation into Ahmad Sarbani’s death that was free from political pressure of any quarter.

“If any individual is found guilty in this case, the appropriate punishment should be meted out without any compromise, even if the person concerned is a high-profile individual,” said its youth chief Nasrudin Hassan.

“The MACC should also guarantee that all witnesses or detainees are safe when on the premises of MACC,” he added.

“Only in this way can MACC bring back the confidence of the people. If not, the people will forever perceive MACC as being chained to the ruling party. Furthermore, the people will be afraid whenever called upon to testify or be interviewed on MACC premises.”