Establish a crime and corruption commission – Josie M. Fernandez

Combating corruption and crime are two of the greatest challenges of the Government. Increasing corruption and crime are very disturbing as both impact the social and economic spheres of lives of citizens. Reports of murders, human trafficking, child abuse, commercial sex, smuggling of goods, drugs, illegal gambling, and car thefts do not shock Malaysian anymore.

The link between organized crime and corruption is nothing complex, It’s not rocket science. The objective of organized crime is to make money and profits.

Criminals want to keep increasing their profits. The channel to continue committing crimes and increase profits is to corrupt those who are entrusted with jobs and functions to eliminate crime.

Worldwide studies on corruption show that the consequence of organized crime is the corruption of people in important positions.

There are calls to revive the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission which died at its inception. However, the conceived Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission was to focus on the police force. To address the increasing crime rates and organized crime in the country, the focus must go beyond the police.

To contain crime and corruption, the government needs to take multidisciplinary approaches and actions. The police are unable to quell the anxiety of people and gain the confidence of investors. Some business leaders have moved their families to Singapore and Australia, citing safety as the reason.

Residents are engaging and paying for security guards and the demand for gated communities is growing. There is even talks for walled communities like in some countries.

In this context, the government should consider establishing a truly independent and powerful Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). The primary functions of such a Commission would be to fight corruption and crime. It will not be an alternative to the police force or the MACC who are tasked to fight other battles as one MP recently said watching the activities of political parties and NGOs.

The Commission would be totally independent of the government and be empowered with special powers to investigate and propose actions and publicize the investigations so that the police and attorney-general will need to act. The CCC will have expertise and sufficient resources. It will undertake research, intelligence gathering, preventive measures to combat crime and corruption including review of related laws and promote the highest standards of integrity in both the public and private sectors. The Queensland model offers a good example.

A small board comprising independent and capable individuals, not aligned to any political parties or business could lead such a commission. It is not necessary for only Tan Sris and Datuks to be appointed to the Board which should not have more than five or six members.

The work of the commission should be carried out by paid professionals who will be engaged for their integrity, expertise and not because they are politically connected.

The Malaysian-Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) need not fear the establishment of an independent Crime and Corruption Commission. The Crime and Corruption Commission would be a smaller and a more focused entity, it would complement the work of the MACC. The structure of the CCC would be different , it would not require so many Commissioners to begin with. The CCC could cooperate with the MACC in the investigations related particularly to organized crime.

The government has the resources to establish the CCC .

The government needs to act swiftly to stop the talons of corruption from penetrating the structures of government or remove them if they have done so through the establishment of the CCC.

Establishing a Crime and Corruption Commission will demonstrate the political will to fight both the alarming rates in crime and increasing levels of corruption.

* Josie M Fernandez reads The Malaysian Insider.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.