The Malaysian Insight

MUSA Aman’s appearance in court today to face a laundry list of corruption charges should send a powerful signal that the passage of time offers no refuge for alleged criminals.

For the vast majority of Malaysians, this action against the once-untouchable Sabah strongman is perhaps the clearest sign that the authorities are prepared to dust the cobwebs off cold cases, even from before the Najib Razak years.

In doing so, they will raise some uncomfortable questions on why Najib’s predecessors and top legal and enforcement officials then did precious little to uncover corrupt acts during their tour of duty.

In this instance, the 35 charges laid out against Musa Aman took place between 2004 and 2008.

He claimed trial to all charges and was allowed RM2 million bail to be paid in two instalments.

The fact that the alleged offences are related to timber concessions will not surprise many because Malaysians have for years heard and read about kickbacks and the plundering of our forests in Sabah and Sarawak.

Over the years, these allegations have been dismissed by Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders as loose talk and unworthy of investigation.

Now it appears that the public was onto something insidious and real, while cover-up merchants occupied the top political, legal, and enforcement offices in the land.

The action against Musa suggests that the layers of protection once enjoyed by the powerful and connected are being removed.

It also suggests that enforcement agencies understand that the new Pakatan Harapan government will reward action and punish foot-dragging and cover-ups.

To gain credibility, this clear-up action by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, police, and the Attorney-General’s Chambers must cover all shady and questionable deals and politicians from the Dr Mahathir era to the Najib years.

Then, no one can accuse the campaign to clean up Malaysia to be a Najib-lynching operation.

The passage of time must not be a shield of protection for anyone. – November 5, 2018.