By Free Malaysia Today
THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating a deputy minister and a government backbencher for corruption in a development that may deepen rifts in Umno, Parti Keadilan Rakyat newspaper Suara Keadilan reports in its latest issue.
Both suspects are women and probably Umno members, and the backbencher used to serve as a deputy minister, the paper quoted confidential sources as saying.
Nevertheless, political observers express doubts that the investigation will be completely transparent and the outcome encouraging.
Many suspect that the move is a mere public relations exercise to boost Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak’s credibility in the wake of a devastating Transparency International report on corruption in Malaysia.
The Prime Minister has also been lately bedevilled by allegations that people close to him were involved in blackmail and bribery to cover-up his alleged relationship with murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibu.
Suara Keadilan said the MACC investigation began about a month ago and that the outcome may be known soon.
The Najib Cabinet has eight women who are deputy ministers, and half of them are from Umno.
A sceptical observer said the case is likely to turn out like the case of former Minister of Land and Cooperative Development Kasitah Gadam, whom the court eventually acquitted.
When Kasitah was dragged to court during early days of the Abdullah Badawi administration, it improved public perception of him as a fighter against corruption.
Kasitah, who was accused of involvement in a dubious land deal, was acquitted only recently.
The public is not likely to be impressed by the latest MACC action. The commission has appeared unresponsive to public calls for investigation into mega scandals involving billions of ringgit of taxpayer money.
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