Corrupt practices have become more creative today, requiring the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) to find equally creative ways of curbing such offences, said consumerist Prof Dr Mohd Hamdan Adnan.

Hamdan, who is Federation of Malaysia Consumers Associations advisor, described the ACA as an "almost toothless tiger" for failing to live up to public expectations in fighting graft.

Speaking to malaysiakini in Kuching on the sidelines of a human rights seminar organised by Era Konsumer and PBB Women's wing, he also pointed out that the prime minister's pledge to eradicate corruption has backfired.

"Pak Lah (premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) wants to eliminate corruption but now corruption comes in many ways (through) many new dubious business ventures and (involving) new players as well," Hamdan claimed.

On Abdullah's claim that it was very difficult to find evidence of corruption involving big players, Hamdan said ACA must learn to work in creative ways because corrupt practices have become creative.

"In the Klang case, for example, the public saw those in question being rewarded instead of being punished. People cannot be faulted if they feel that the level of corruption has gone up," he said.

"This is the public impression. And perceptions, if left unchecked, will become a reality in the public eye whenever there is no response from the government on rumours that are flying around on corruption."

Hamdan said many people opt to work with local councils despite the low salaries "because they see it as a goldmine".

He also said the government must be transparent in implementing mega projects and stop hiding behind the Official Secrets Act (OSA),.

"Give (information classified under) the OSA a lifespan of five years, so that people can check for discrepancies, especially in issues that have nothing to do with national security. What is the purpose of secrecy when the whole world knows except Malaysians?" he said in a thinly-veiled reference to details of dubious government contracts exposed via blogs.

"We are not stupid (and) people are watching. People are more exposed to the international media and to blogs."

Hamdan said the prime minister's call for bloggers to be more responsible is laughable.

"(Responsibility) must start with the government. The pot cannot call the kettle black the question is which is blacker," he said with a laugh.

Hamdan amending the laws alone will be insufficient to curb corruption.

"The law is a double-edged sword, it can either enhance justice or oppress it. Furthermore, a number of laws are already obsolete," he said.

He cited the land laws of certain states that now allow the government to acquire land in the interests of state development but which, in reality, mask transactions that benefit cronies.

Pitfalls of perception

Hamdan welcomed Sarawak government's promotion of the 'user pays' concept to ensure efficiency in local government operations.

"(But) this has to start with leadership by example - leaders must pay first. They must not ask people to pay for basic amenities while they enjoy many perks," he noted.

For example, a Sarawak leader is said to be living in a RM50 million mansion, chauffeured in a Rolls Royce and flown in a private jet and helicopter. The government pays his electricity bills amounting to some RM400,000 annually.

Far from questioning this, ACA recently declared that all Sarawak political leaders are 'clean'.

Hamdan demanded greater transparency and accountability of the government in implementing the 'user pays' concept.

Without such openness, he said, the public would be left with the impression that VVIP cronies are making huge profits.

Villagers in the state now question why they have to pay RM4,000 to get their houses connected to a power source when the power line is less than 50m away.

"When they ask, the contractors cite the ever-increasing cost and also claim that they have no choice because they have to pay a lot of people to get the contract," Hamdan alleged.

"The ACA has to investigate these perceptions, or people will think that the ACA can be paid off as well. You cannot blame the people if they feel that ACA itself is not clean."