Exigit Sinceras Devotionis Affectus - the MACC

Read the following headlines and by putting 2 and 2 together, you needn’t wonder why people don’t have any iota of respect for the new anti-corruption body, the MACC.

Malaysiakini - Karpal takes MACC chief to task

Malaysian Insider - Pakatan braces for BN assault in Selangor

Good olde Karpal Singh lambasted the MACC chief Ahmad Said Hamdan for issuing what he considered as a public prejudgment (the legal equivalent of an Israeli or Japanese-styled pre-emptive strike) against Selangor MB, Khalid Ibrahim.

Ahmad Said declared that “there was strong and good evidence" against Khalid Ibrahim in alleged wrongdoing in the maintenance of a luxury car (a Lexus which is Khalid's personal property, but which he uses for his offical duties as MB) and purchase of sacrificial cows (for donation to the people of federal constituency of Bandar Tun Razak, Khalid's federal seat).

Whether those allegations have any basis is a separate issue but regrettably Ahmad Said has prejudiced the allegations against Khalid in more than one way (not just the alleged corruption) as Khalid has also lodged a libel suit against Khir Toyo for slandering him.

Karpal said Ahmad Said has violated the rule of law with his premature-inclined big mouth and demanded the MACC chief publicly clarify the basis on which such public disclosure on the findings of a graft investigation were released, blooming way way before prosecution has even been instituted.

The Lion of Gelugor roared: "It’s a prejudgment that the MACC chief must explain immediately. Ahmad’s public statement would compromise and jeorpadise Abdul Khalid’s case."

If you recall, in my previous post Anwar Ibrahim - 'Make an uproar in the east, hide the west' Ahmad Said had chewed Anwar Ibrahim for making the same premature statements about an incomplete investigation into the alleged Kedah corruption case, stating: "The Kulim case is being investigated and is not completed and Anwar's statement will affect investigation" - see Malaysiakini 'Bribery in Kedah': MACC ticks off Anwar

He's obviously one of those cakap ta'serupa bikin devotees.

Then Karpal twisted the knife around a fair bit. He rebuked Ahmad Said “for lacking the necessary knowledge on the very law that governs the MACC, which arguably does not bestow any prosecution powers on the commission.”

Ahmad Said had stupidly stated that though the MACC has prosecution powers, he had forwarded the case to the AG’s chambers because the case against Khalid Ibrahim involved a VIP.

Like Nemesis unbound, Karpal roared that Section 58 of the new Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission Act clearly states that: "A prosecution for an offence under this Act shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Public Prosecutor".

In other words, the MACC chief has diddly squat powers to independently prosecute anyone. That could only be done subject to consent from the AG’s chambers.

Karpal punished Ahmad Said for his vainglorious boast: "It’s shocking the MACC chief did not know about Section 58. It exposes his incompetence."

Oh, what will the Pakatan do without our spiritual and legal guardian, Karpal Singh, Lion of Gelugor?

And Malaysiakini Vox Populi comments have this to say: New anti-corruption body yet another BN lap dog?

I call for this MACC to be dissolved. We certainly don’t want an Israeli-Japanese preemptive-styled auto de fé headed by an UMNO-appointed Tomás de Torquemada, more so when he has demonstrated he's incompetent.