COMMENT Despite calls from the Malaysian Bar, certain NGOs and the BN component parties, there is no necessity for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng to go on leave.

While there are allegations against him for purchasing his house at a price below the market rate, it has not been established that the seller sold it at this price just to seek advantage in another property deal - the purchase of Taman Manggis land for the setting up of a private dental centre and a hotel complex.

Surprisingly, the Malaysian Bar, which is often at loggerheads with BN government, seems to have unwittingly gone along with the BN political parties in asking Guan Eng to take leave pending the investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). There is more to “taking leave” than meets the ordinary eye!

MACC is another problematic institution.

Over the years, it has been defanged by the ruling regime to prevent its senior members from being investigated and prosecuted. It has not emerged clean after Teo Beng Hock, a DAP member, was found mysteriously murdered.

Under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, the MACC has lost whatever credibility it had although it could not be entirely faulted.

The very fact that the MACC wants speedy investigation of Guan Eng simply suggests that some powerful forces are pushing it in that direction. Whether there is basis for such an investigation is best known to those in power.

While the MACC has little or no credibility in prosecuting those who have committed crime, the Malaysian Bar (especially some of its outspoken members) thinks that it is the final arbiter of justice in the country.

Yes, the Malaysian Bar has taken very decisive steps lately, but we don't understand why in the case of Guan Eng it has not given him the benefit of doubt.

Why is Steven Thiru ( photo ), its president, pushing for Guan Eng to take leave?

Guan Eng is not trying to evade the process of justice nor is trying to "flee" the country. He is prepared to be investigated and he will give his cooperation.

He has been investigated before on many other issues. He has been jailed twice, one under the dreaded ISA and the other for speaking up for an innocent underage Malay girl.

Umno juggernaut

The Malaysian Bar is not much interested in asking Guan Eng to go on leave, but rather it wants to prove to Umno that it is an impartial organisation and that it would not take sides when it comes to matters of corruption and abuse of power.

This is precisely the reason why the Malaysian Bar was keen to establish the point that it is an impartial organisation and this required firmness on Guan Eng's alleged corruption case.

By asking Guan Eng to "take leave", the Malaysian Bar was simply trying to distance itself from the Opposition, and by extension, saying to Umno leaders that it was "impartial" and "objective" to prove a point.

However, this outfit remains powerless in front of the Umno juggernaut.

It is not our intention to criticise the Malaysian Bar unnecessarily as we have a great deal of respect for this outfit and for the kind of work it is doing and what it had done in the past.

The real reason why the Malaysian Bar wanted Guan Eng to take leave was not due to the fear that he might influence the outcome of the investigations, but rather to prove a point to Umno politicians.

While there is nothing wrong in asking Guan Eng to take leave, there are powerful politicians who continue to occupy the high citadels of power even though prima facie corruption cases have been established against them.

Why should Guan Eng take leave at a juncture when nothing is known about whether he committed a crime or not. Sorry, as we have said earlier, Guan Eng has no influence on the MACC or any other federal investigative apparatus.

Nobody is saying that Guan Eng is innocent. All we are saying is that let the MACC do its investigations and come out with findings before he could be judged.

High moral and ethical standards are required of those who serve the public. However, can we have one standard for the powerful and one for those who are considered weak or less powerful?

Surprisingly, it looks like some NGOs have high moral expectations from Guan Eng but at the same time they are "prepared" to tolerate the blatant and crude corruption coming from those who still roam recklessly the corridors of power in Putrajaya.

P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.