If the claims of a senior political science lecturer are anything to go by, Malaysia is in dire shape insofar as values, ethics, integrity are concerned.

Alleging blatant discrimination, the lecturer with 25 years service at a local university claims to have been dumped in cold storage for teaching her students to critically evaluate national policies.

"I'm a political scientist. How can I not teach students to critically evaluate national policies? I don't simply criticise and do highlight the good and bad points," she said on condition of anonymity.

She was among scores of residents and representatives of special interest groups in an overwhelming turnout at the second public hearing of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity, at the Petaling Jaya Municipal Council yesterday.

There was only standing room as more than 100 representatives of residents associations, political parties and religious groups turned up to have their say.

In addition to recording the frustration and anger over poor public services and the National Economic Policy, the committee also heard of alleged abuse of power, corruption, lack of accountability and discriminatory practices in the civil service.

As per the Standing Order, those presenting their views are covered by parliamentary immunity. Committee members are prohibited from discussing the proceedings outside.

'Second admissions list'

Met later, the lecturer said a pervasive culture of fear in the academia is steadily destroying teaching talent and downgrading the standards and quality of graduates.

"I know of people in different universities, some of them friends, who are very scared to speak their mind or stand up for their rights. In fact, I was told to forget about being heard.

"This led me to believe that my transfer far away from my husband and children at this stage of my career is punishment for standing up for my rights, for the rights of the academia."

Faculty members were also told to remove Far Eastern Economic Review and Aliran monthly from the list of reading material for students, she said, citing a briefing.

"In my class, I always refer students to a wide range of sources for reading so that they can argue their way through a policy. Their conclusion is not important.

"In addition to repressive laws, we lecturers have to sign the Akujanji and be subjected to unfair treatment at the hands of the university administration.

"I've exhausted all internal and official avenues but it has borne no results. I'm still waiting for a satisfactory explanation about my transfer out of state and the other matters I've raised."

She has written to the university's top officials, the higher education ministry, the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia and the Public Complaints Bureau.

The lack of transparency, she alleged, has extended into university admission procedures in which she claims to have discovered a "second admission list" held by the vice-chancellor himself.

"There's a lot of sloganeering on quality, accountability and transparency but the reality is the total opposite," she said, referring to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's policy calls.

"There should be greater monitoring to prevent such abuses of power."

Institutional reform

A disgruntled lawyer related his lengthy ordeal with government agencies over a company dispute. He talked of being stonewalled and told to pay RM30,000 if he wanted the matter expedited, with some shares thrown in once the matter was settled.

Resident associations told of unprofessional services of local authorities, lack of transparent decision-making and accountable actions, and poor communication skills.

Several memorandums were also submitted to the committee, copies of which were circulated to journalists.

The Malaysian Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikhism voiced its unhappiness over the lack of integrity among political leaders, accusing some of inflammatory statements widely published in the media.

The Malaysian Trades Union Congress raised the lack of transparency in the signing of concession agreements, and cited those involving water management in several states.

"Concession agreements cannot be put under the Official Secrets Act. It must be made public to reduce corruption," read the document presented by its president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, who was accompanied by secretary-general G Rajasekaran.

They wanted action on an earlier memorandum they sent to the premier on Jan 24 last year.

Coalition Against Water Privatisation co-ordinator Charles Santiago and Research for Social Advancement executive director Richard Yeoh wanted water privatisation to be declared illegal.

Selangor DAP recommended similar select committees be set up in every state with emphasis on Selangor, the reinstatement of local elections and a leaner civil service to reduce red-tape.

Several organisations wanted protection for whistleblowers, freedom of information law, the Anti-Corruption Agency to be moved out of the Prime Minister's Department and the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission to be set up.

Keadilan vice-president R Sivarasa said freedom of expression to expose corrupt practices and ensure transparency of governance is central to the battle against corruption.

"(This is) so that all relevant information of public interest is readily available to the public, and protection is given to all employees in both the public and private spheres who expose corrupt practices," said the party's memorandum read out by information chief Tian Chua.

Yayasan Strategik Sosial executive director Dr Denison Jayasooria said one weakness of the National Integrity Plan is the assumption that current mechanisms are adequate. He noted the absence of direct reference to local authorities and councillors.

Agencies to respond

Committee chairperson Bernard Giluk Dompok, Barisan Nasional MP for Ranau, noted the overwhelming response compared with the previous hearing in Parliament last week.

Speaking to reporters, he said some had raised instances of problems in dealing with the judiciary and the executive.

"Most grievances are about the government's lack of response or bad treatment and misdeeds among officers especially at the local government level."

He said the committee will channel specific grievances to the relevant agencies following each hearing. The panel's next stop is Penang, next Monday.

"After the first wave of hearings, we will have a hearing at a specified date for the agencies to respond. We want to hear the officers' responses before submitting the report to Parliament."

Bernard, who is also a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, hoped the recommendations will be analysed by the respective government officers.

On a suggestion by opposition party Keadilan for the committee to issue an interim report for more immediate action, he said this would be considered after a few more hearings.

Ten BN MPs sit in the committee together with Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timor) and Ab Halim Ab Rahman (PAS - Pengkalan Chepa).

The committee, set up on Dec 8 last year to seek public input on integrity issues, has two years to present its recommendations in a report to Parliament.