With regards to your report, Citizens pledge to fight corruption all the way , I must say that national integrity congress in question reminded me of the 'converted re-preaching to themselves'.

This because the policymakers who can and make a difference in the fight against corruption were conspicuously absent.

This must have been a real disappointment for the over 300 Malaysians who inked their personal and professional pledges towards a corruption-free society.

We are informed that their pledges will be handed over to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Maximus Ongkili for tabling at a Cabinet meeting sometime later.

Excuse me? Handed over to a Cabinet that still comprises individuals who are alleged to have been major players in corrupt activities over the past decades?

And how can we have a war against corruption if we do not have proactive and much needed legislation like the freedom of information law (FOIA) and a much-needed review and amendment of the Official Secrets Act (OSA)?

We cannot also ignore the calls by the civil society to ensure that the judiciary and Anti- Corruption Agency are completely independent. And if we are really serious about corruption than we must first ratify the United Nations Convention on Corruption.

For the record, the convention is currently two countries short of the 30 to become enforceable.