Published by Focus Malaysia, image from New Straits Times.
THE Malay proverb “harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi” (relying on the fence to protect the paddy but it is the fence which ate up the paddy) describes a person or entity given the responsibility to carry out certain task never fulfilled or reciprocated its/their responsibility instead betrayed them.
In relation to this, the quality and sufficiency of the walls and fences at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters may have to be examined.
This is following reports of a ‘fake Datuk Seri’ – who was reportedly investigated for the alleged involvement in the notorious Macau Scam – climbing over the fence of MACC headquarters to escape from the authorities.
Most recently, it was reported that this individual is not even involved in scams or Macau Scams in the country, but is ‘believed’ to be “a coordinator or an agent providing lodgings and call centres for Chinese nationals hired by scam cartels in China”.
Malaysians are left baffled by such reports as it is simultaneously infuriating and hilarious.
Clearly scams, be it Macau or not, are a serious matter, costing Malaysians to lose hundreds of millions every year. Yet it all appears to be packaged into a distasteful joke. This is one of the rare times where we hope it would be a fake news.
It boggles the mind when we re-enact reports on how this individual skilfully avoided security personnel and police officers in broad daylight, and with the help of a bodyguard climbed over the fence into an escape car.
MACC surely did not have its gates and security technologies designed by imbeciles, so if the report is true, then this fake Datuk Seri must be a ‘powerful magician’ with influence extending beyond the walls of MACC.
Interestingly, there have been contradicting reports stating that “A Datuk Seri and two policemen, who were previously detained by MACC in connection with a Macau scam and online gambling syndicate investigation, were remanded under Prevention of Crime Act (Poca) 1959 on October 14”.
Other reports dated October 16 mentioned “police are now on the hunt for the suspect while three others whom they had rearrested that day have been detained under the Prevention of Crime Act.”
The apparent inconsistency in media reports is raising eyebrows. Surely, everyone is innocent until proven guilty, but this has all the tell-tale signs of something fishy, if not outright severe corruption.
Not only these criminal activities involve Malaysians themselves, but most unforgivably, news indicating the potential involvement of crooked cops. If this is true, then the rakyat is betrayed by the very people that have taken an oath to protect its citizens.
Reports alleged the fake Datuk Seri to be at the helm of an online gambling syndicate known as Kartel Low Yat. If dirty police officers are involved, then the underworld has a tight leash on the neck of officers high above ground, and these so-called ‘law-enforcement’ officers have devolved into guard dogs for criminals, instead of vanguards of the people.
It was reported the MACC had questioned high-level senior police officers in its probe. Combine this with the MACC escape shenanigan, Malaysians are questioning the credibility of MACC and the police.
This was reportedly a notion shared by Datuk Nadzim Johan, lead activist of the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM).
As if times are not hard enough, with the economic crisis causing thousands of job losses, the vulnerable Malaysians ranging from retirees, pensioners, business owners, professionals, school teachers and even students, have been cheated of their hard-earned money, losing their life-long savings in return.
Lives have been destroyed and families have been broken. Yet these scammers (and those disgraceful ones protecting them) are heartless filths, unmoved by the real devastation they cause to others.
These low-life criminals are masquerading a lavish lifestyle, shamelessly spending other people’s money.
This foolhardy extravagance built on top of the sufferings of others is the polar opposite of the ‘economics of empathy’, as coined by EMIR Research in its recent article.
Malaysians have their hands full trying to manage an invisible externally-originating enemy that is Covid-19, and at the same time it has to deal with an internal treachery that is nothing less than cancer.
Cancer may be preventable through a change in lifestyle, and in this analogy, a change in ethical principles. But we’ll have to go all the way back to the family unit, instilling of an ethical culture, revamping the education system to inculcate good principles, and implement an entirely new societal framework that is rakyat-centric.
Understandably, this will take quite some time.
Malaysians cannot afford to wait any longer. With any deeply metastasising tumour, it has to be surgically removed completely and immediately, followed by a ‘nuclear’ approach using the harshest form of chemotherapy to kill cancer cells hiding deep in other parts of the body.
Similarly, Malaysia’s leaders have no choice but to commit to an all-out battle against syndicates and corruption.
Malaysia can forget its dreams of becoming a ‘high-income’ and ‘high-tech’ nation, if it fails to address the roots of such crimes first, followed by addressing the deeper sources of corruption.
Malaysia’s Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 will remain a moving target, if not a broken dream, should Malaysia be unsuccessful in addressing issues such as this.
When it comes to organised crime, understandably, people are scared. Most would turn a blind eye because the problem appears too big, too dangerous, for the average Joe to make a difference. This may be true.
But, as mentioned by Edmund Burke, “the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing”. Without intervention, cancer kills.
Truthfully, scammers are just thieving cowards, cheating others behind layers of technology and false identities, and the worst of the lot cower behind officials in the take.
Together, they pride themselves as gangsters above the law. They feel invincible because we let them be.
But if strength in numbers is any indication of power, then the collective power of the people is stronger than any forces above ground or in the underworld. Which is why the people have to fight this.
The media can help victims by raising their voice. Good organisations need to join forces. The good officers of law enforcement agencies must continue to resist lucrative temptations, and leaders must set an example of absolute non-tolerance to corruption.
Without this unity and commitment from the side of good, the people will rise up and demand changes to be made at the very top, be it in the executive, judiciary, or legislative branches in order to initiate institutional and societal reforms.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin recently announced the launching of the Malaysia Cyber Security Strategy (MCSS) 2020-2024 with a RM1.8 bil allocation to fight cybercrimes, which should include a focus on fighting scammers, and other online syndicates and organised crime.
Ahmad Ameen Mohd Kamal is Head of Science and Technology at EMIR Research, an independent think tank focused on strategic policy recommendations based on rigorous research.
