The Malaysian Insight

TWO federal ministers, a deputy minister and a state executive councillor may have broken anti-graft laws by doling out aid plastered with their images during the coronavirus crisis.

Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said if such aid had been funded by resources under their respective ministries and portfolios, they have abused their executive powers and can be investigated under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act.

“If government funds are abused for politicians to seek gratification, it may warrant investigation by the MACC, under Section 23 of the Act,” Bersih said today in a statement.

The ministers in questions are Annuar Musa (Federal Territories) and Saifuddin Abdullah (Communications and Multimedia), while the deputy minister is Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Agriculture).

Negri Sembilan state executive councillor Veerapan Supermaniam, along with the ministers, had their faces and or names featured on aid packages distributed during the movement control order (MCO).

“Their names were in both their capacities as federal/state minister and constituency representative,” Bersih said.

“If the gifts were funded using executive resources under their watch, Bersih 2.0 believes they have abused their ministerial power and should be subject to investigation under the MACC Act.”

These were among the 19 cases Bersih discovered of both Perikatan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan leaders who distributed aid packages with their names and images.

The practice has been criticised as vote-buying attempts during a national crisis, as the MCO has left many vulnerable to hunger due to the partial shutdown of the economy.

Bersih provided pictures of packets of rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil and hand sanitisers with labels depicting the politician, which had been distributed throughout Peninsula Malaysia.

Besides the four, the PN leaders and lawmakers are Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, senior ministers Mohamed Azmin Ali and Ismail Sabri Yaakob as well as minister Noraini Ahmad.

On the other hand, the PH leaders are Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir, Kedah exco Summugam Rengasamy, Selangor lawmaker Najwan Halimi, MPs Nga Kor Ming, Khalid Samad, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Hannah Yeoh, Lim Lip Eng, Fahmi Fadzil, Chan Ming Kai and Pahang lawmaker Young Syefura Othman.

Mukhriz and Wan Rosdy’s gifts were classified in the “grey area”, said Bersih.

“If the gifts involve funds for statewide purposes but are given only to their own constituencies or very selected recipients personally connected to them, and not for all qualified recipients across the state, they too should be investigated for abuse of power.”

Bersih also slammed Selangor Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari for using his portraits to promote Selangor’s stimulus package, calling the practice inappropriate.

“This should not happen because Selangor has a parliamentary government. There is no MB without the state government. And there is no state government without the confidence of the state legislature,” the group said.

“Amirudin must not mistake himself to be the state president of Selangor with a statewide personal mandate.”

Bersih questioned why the rest of lawmakers used their images on the care packages if these were bought using their constituency development fund (CDF).

They include Azmin, Ismail, Noraini, Summugam and Najwan.

“Regardless of party, why should lawmakers take the credit when the funds come from taxpayers and not the representatives’ own pockets?

“This is why Bersih 2.0 has constantly highlighted the need for constituency allocation to be rigorously regulated and transparently administered.”

In eight of the 19 cases, it was not clear whether their gifts came from personal funds or from CDFs.

These are: Nga, Khalid, Syed Saddiq, Lim, Fahmi Fadzil, Chan and Young Syefura.

“It is not unlawful for politicians to seek name recognition after forking out their own money to aid their constituents. However, this nevertheless still encourages clientelism and erodes democracy.

“The ultimate solution is to have first, professional, impartial and responsive state agencies to sufficiently provide for constituents’ need for local development and relief; second, a strong civil society to allow members of society to support each other, as aptly framed by the Covid-19 relief hashtag #KitaJagaKita.” – April 1, 2020.