All Barisan Nasional candidates are to be vetted by MACC(Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) - this is yet another abuse of power the the BN.
Is the MACC in the business of vetting candidates of candidates for upcoming General Elections? Can other political parties also do this? Can I, a Malaysian citizen, submit a list of names of persons for MACC to vet and then inform me whether they are corrupt, or there is a possibility that they are corrupt? Of course not, that is not the work of the MACC.
If a person makes a report about corruption - then, MACC investigates and if sufficient evidence is found, then MACC will commence prosecution - MACC is certainly not there to do 'private investigations' for private individuals, groups or even political parties that are in government.
If the BN has send a list of names for MACC to investigate, then naturally it must be a report based on the belief of the party that they are indeed corrupt - if not, it is an abuse of power, and a waste of MACC's time and resources, that should be better used for fighting corruption in Malaysia...I wonder whether we will see any person so investigated by the MACC prosecuted when evidence of corruption is found - or will it just be 'swept under the carpet'...and all that is done by the BN is to find another candidate...
The whole thing is just a 'propaganda' - a political campaigning strategy by BN to demonstrate that its candidates are 'MACC approved' - just like that 'SIRIM approved'...
If you want to investigate or vet your candidates, then do it by yourselves... do not use government resources... use private investigations....maybe even advertise the names, if you want, and ask people to come forward if there is any evidence of corruption...
There is also some talk that there may be a law that will make it compulsory for candidates running for elections to get 'MACC approval' first - This is wrong. Let them run, and if they win - then investigate if there is some report or some evidence.... If they are found guilty of corruption, then disqualify them - have a by-elections...
What will we have next? Only approved candidates can contest....approved by the MACC, the police, ... This is not right - anyone who wants to contest shall just come in on nomination day, and get nominated... No need for prior disclosure of intention or any list of candidates...
Of course, BERNAMA will shout praises for whatever the BN does...hence hiding what really is an abuse of power....MACC should not allow itself to be used like this..neither should the police or any other ....
Chorus of support for MACC vetting of BN candidates
Party leaders, observers and political analysts feel that this method will help the BN in looking for candidates who are truly qualified to lead the party's struggles.
Political observer Prof Dr Zainal Kling said this method would help the Prime Minister Najib Razak as the BN chief, in making the right choice by selecting candidates who were free from negative perception and allegations.
"A good record is a must for any 'winnable candidate' to fulfill the pledge made by Najib in looking for candidates who are truly qualified to lead the BN struggles," the head of the History, Heritage and Socio-Culture Cluster of the National Council of Professors (MPN), told Bernama.
Recently, MACC consultation and corruption prevention panel chief Johan Jaafar had proposed that the government make it compulsory for all political parties to submit their list of candidates to the commission for vetting to ensure that they were 'clean' besides avoiding any undesired allegations.
"The MACC vetting is an initial move to prove to the people that the government is very thorough in selecting candidates who will champion the cause of the people besides giving an assurance that the candidates selected are truly dependable," said Zainal.
A political analyst, Prof Madya Dr Samsul Adabi Mamat, meanwhile said the candidates who passed the MACC screening would give a positive picture to the people.
The move was appropriate because everyone would try to promote themselves as winnable candidates but they must abide by the findings of the screening by the MACC, said the lecturer of the Social Science and Humanities Faculty of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
However, he was confident that most of the candidates were qualified but the vetting would further strengthen the credibility of the candidates selected.
He said Umno and the BN needed candidates who were winnable and qualified to continue the struggle after the past leaders had succeeded in bringing development after gaining independence due to their wisdom in administering the country for national prosperity.
Will help boost BN image
Meanwhile, Puteri Umno head Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the vetting process could prove that the candidates selected were truly transparent and qualified.
"This is a positive step to avoid bigger problems that would bring inconvenience to the people if the candidate selected was found to be involved in corruption after the election," she said in a statement.
Rosnah said the vetting would also boost public confidence in the candidates selected.
In Kuching, the Batang Lupar parliamentarian Rohani Abdul Karim said the vetting process would help in boosting the BN image.
"We don't want candidates with hidden 'skeletons'," she said.
- Bernama - Malaysiakini, 22/12/2012, Chorus of support for MACC vetting of BN candidates
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