Nazri “daydreaming” Malaysia in “premier league” when actually in “Tier 3” of TI CPI 2006 but yet mentally prepared for Malaysia to plunge further in TI CPI 2007 towards 50^th ranking on occasion of Malaysia’s 50^th Merdeka anniversary

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Media Statement (2)        
by Lim Kit Siang  
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(Parliament, Friday): The “bohong” and “bodoh” outbursts of the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in Parliament yesterday during question time on corruption in Malaysia was most shocking, but even more shocking should be his “day-dreaming” that Malaysia is in the “premier league” among the 50 countries with the least corruption in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index  (CPI) 2006 when it is actually in “Tier 3”. 

What should be most shocking of all is his mental preparedness for Malaysia to plunge further in the TI CPI 2007 towards the 50^th ranking on the occasion of Malaysia’s 50^th Merdeka anniversary. 

This is the Bernama report of what Nazri said during question-time yesterday:

“Malaysia In The `Premier League' Of CPI

“KUALA LUMPUR, June 21 (Bernama) -- Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said although the preception on corruption in this country is considered to be unfavourable, Malaysia is still included in the `premier league' comprising 50 countries with the least corruption.

"’When we have reached (the group of) 50, how can we go up further? We are already in the premier league, it is not easy to improve,’ he said in the Dewan Rakyat when responding to a question from Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (Keadilan-Permatang Pauh) who wanted to know the measures taken by the government in view of the decline in the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for Malaysia prepared by Transparency International compared to countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.”

In the first place, Malaysia’s is not in the “premier league” of TI CPI 2006 – which can only be reserved for the Top Ten countries regarded as least corrupt, namely  Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Denmark, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Norway, Australia and Netherlands.

Tier 2 will be the band of 20 countries led by Austria, Luxembourg.and United Kingdom ranked from No. 11 to No. 30 while Tier 3 for the countries, including Malaysia from No. 31 to  50 as Malaysia’s ranking is No. 44.

Secondly, Nazri appeared to be quite proud that Malaysia is ranked No. 44, even if lower so long as among the top 50 countries.

Thirdly, is this an indication that the Abdullah administration is aware and mentally prepared for a further plunge in the TI CPI 2007 from 44^th towards 50^th ranking?

Nazri should explain why he had resorted to the unprecedented and extraordinary action of clearing the Deputy Internal Security Minister, Datuk Johari Baharum from RM5.5 million corruption allegations and in the process pre-empted the decisions of both the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail.

This is because the ACA had conducted investigations into the RM5.5 million allegations and had submitted its report to the Attorney-General who has yet to make a decision on the ACA investigations.

Nazri has himself admitted that he had no information from the ACA and the Attorney-General.

Is Nazri’s action in Parliament yesterday pre-empting the ACA and Attorney-General Chambers by unilaterally and arbitrarily clearing Johari of the RM5.5 million corruption allegations an expression of his lack of confidence in both the ACA and the Attorney-General, especially when Nazri is the Minister responsible to Parliament for both the ACA and the Attorney-General?

If Nazri has lost confidence in both the ACA and the Attorney-General, the honourable thing he should do is to ask the Prime Minister to take the necessary action.

Nazri should not act as Super-ACA and Super-AG to override both. If Johari is to be declared innocent of the RM5.5 million corruption allegations, it must come from the ACA and AG and not Nazri.

(22/6/2007)