Paul Low to be judged on results of graft fight, says DAP
By Boo Su-Lyn
KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — The inclusion of Datuk Paul Low in the Cabinet will be judged on the Transparency-International Malaysia (TI-M) chairman’s achievements in eradicating “rampant corruption”, the DAP’s Tony Pua said today.
The DAP publicity chief pointed out that Low (picture) would be scrutinised on his ability to implement reforms like ensuring that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will continue to investigate Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud despite the latter’s refusal to co-operate with the anti-graft body, ensuring transparency in government contracts, and requiring ministers and deputy ministers to publicly declare their assets.
“We hope that the Najib administration isn’t just trying to have Datuk Paul Low’s impeccable credentials rub off on the former, without real and tangible reforms enforced,” said Pua in a statement, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“Without such measures by the prime minister, Datuk Paul Low will only become a lame duck minister, and his reputation severely tarnished,” added the Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
Najib announced the new Cabinet yesterday that showed Umno’s dominance in the 32-man line-up, with the exception of new faces like Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Low was appointed a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.
Malaysia was ranked the 54th least corrupt country in the world in 2012, according to the latest Transparency International Corruption Perception Index (CPI) released last December, tying with Latvia and Turkey out of 176 nations surveyed.
While its global ranking appears improved compared to 2011, when it placed 60th out of 183 countries, the international index still placed Malaysia below Rwanda (50), Botswana (30) Bahrain (53), Israel (39) and even neighbouring Brunei (46).
Pua noted today that Low could afford to be the “bad cop” in the Najib administration as he did not belong to any political party.
“The eyes and hopes of all Malaysians will be on the performance of Datuk Paul Low to check the rampant corruption in government. We will not want to be disappointed,” said Pua.
Last month, Taib called the MACC “naughty” and said the anti-graft commission did not deserve his co-operation in its investigations on shady land deals in Sarawak that were exposed by international environmental group Global Witness recently.
“The failure to even admonish such behaviour will erase all ‘positive’ perceptions arising from Datuk Paul Low’s appointment,” said Pua.
Pua also called on Low to ensure that government contracts would be awarded through open and competitive tenders, noting that ministries have refused directives by government agency Pemandu to release details of procurement contracts.
“Datuk Paul Low must hence wield the uncompromising stick to enforce discipline among the many ministries to cut back on wastages, corruption and cronyism,” said Pua.
Pua also called for recently-concluded procurement contracts, especially in the defence industry, and mega privatisation contracts that have not been completed or where work has yet to start, such as the RM5.3 billion West Coast Expressway, the RM2.2 billion Kinrara-Damansara Expressway, the Penang Port and KTM Bhd, to be suspended immediately pending a new open tender exercise.
“With Datuk Paul Low, we look to seeing an uncompromising stance in the government’s fight against corruption and cronyism, to uphold the Transparency International’s Integrity Pledge which Najib has himself signed,” said Pua.
“Pakatan Rakyat will provide the fullest support to Datuk Paul Low to implement all necessary measures to ensure a clean, transparent and competitive government,” he added.
