BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM
ASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH DAN SALAM SEJAHTERA
YAB DATO’ SERI MOHD. NAJIB TUN ABDUL RAZAK
TIMBALAN PERDANA MENTERI MALAYSIA
YBHG DATO’ SRI AHMAD SAID HAMDAN
KETUA PESURUHJAYA SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA
DIF-DIF KEHORMAT
TUAN-TUAN, PUAN-PUAN, PARA HADIRIN YANG SAYA HORMATI SEKELIAN
1. ALHAMDULILLAH, SAYA BERSYUKUR KE HADRAT ALLAH S.W.T. KERANA DENGAN IZIN DAN LIMPAH KURNIA-NYA, MAKA DAPAT KITA HADIR BERSAMA DI MAJLIS PELANCARAN RASMI SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA (S.P.R.M.) INI. KEHADIRAN SAUDARA-SAUDARI YANG BEGITU RAMAI DI MAJLIS INI, TERMASUK JEMPUTAN-JEMPUTAN KHAS DARI LUAR NEGARA, JELAS MENANDAKAN SOKONGAN PADU SERTA KOMITMEN SAUDARA-SAUDARI SEMUA TERHADAP PERJUANGAN MURNI MENENTANG RASUAH.
2. TERLEBIH DAHULU, SAYA INGIN MERAKAMKAN UCAPAN TAHNIAH KEPADA PIHAK SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA (S.P.R.M.) KERANA TELAH DIIKTIRAF SEBAGAI SEBUAH SURUHANJAYA SEJAK 1 JANUARI 2009. PERUBAHAN INI BUKAN SEKADAR PERUBAHAN NAMA. MALAH IA MERUPAKAN SATU PERUBAHAN DARI SEGI STRUKTUR DAN PENDEKATAN YANG MAMPU MENINGKATKAN KEWIBAWAAN DAN KEUPAYAAN AGENSI PENCEGAHAN RASUAH NEGARA DALAM MENANGANI JENAYAH RASUAH DENGAN LEBIH CEKAP, EFEKTIF, PROAKTIF DAN TELUS. INILAH SATU LANGKAH YANG AMAT PENTING, YANG AMAT DINANTI-NANTIKAN OLEH RAKYAT, DALAM MEMPERKUKUHKAN AGENDA INTEGRITI DAN ANTI-RASUAH NEGARA.
3. SAYA INGIN MERAKAMKAN PENGHARGAAN KEPADA DATO’ SRI AHMAD SAID HAMDAN DAN PEGAWAI-PEGAWAINYA DI ATAS KESUNGGUHAN MEREKA DALAM MEMERANGI JENAYAH RASUAH DENGAN AGRESIF SEJAK BEBERAPA TAHUN KEBELAKANGAN INI, WALAUPUN TERDAPAT KEKANGAN SAMA ADA DALAM BENTUK KEANGGOTAAN, LOGISTIK DAN SEBAGAINYA. �KERAJAAN AMAT MENGHARGAI USAHA TERSEBUT DAN AKAN SENTIASA MEMBERIKAN SOKONGAN DALAM PELBAGAI BENTUK DEMI MEMASTIKAN SURUHANJAYA INI MAMPU BERFUNGSI DAN BERPERANAN DENGAN CEKAP LAGI BERKESAN, SELARAS DENGAN KEHENDAK PERUNDANGAN.
4. SEBENARNYA, S.P.R.M. DIWUJUDKAN BUKANLAH ATAS DESAKAN MANA-MANA PIHAK ATAU DIBUAT BERDASARKAN PERTIMBANGAN POLITIK ATAU PERTIMBANGAN EKONOMI SEMATA-MATA. SESUNGGUHNYA, S.P.R.M. LAHIR DARI KEINGINAN KERAJAAN UNTUK MEWUJUDKAN MASYARAKAT MALAYSIA YANG DIHORMATI DAN DIPANDANG TINGGI, YANG MENGAMALKAN BUDAYA INTEGRITI DAN MENOLAK RASUAH DALAM SEMUA ASPEK KEHIDUPAN.
5. PERGERAKAN UNTUK MENAMBAHBAIK DAN MENSTRUKTUR SEMULA BADAN PENCEGAH RASUAH TELAH BERMULA SEJAK TAHUN 2007 LAGI, TETAPI MENGAMBIL TEMPOH MASA YANG AGAK LAMA KERANA PERLU MELALUI PROSES PERUNDANGAN DAN PENTADBIRAN YANG TERTENTU DAHULU. WALAU BAGAIMANAPUN, SAAT YANG KITA SEMUA NANTI-NANTIKAN TELAH TIBA. SAYA BERHARAP DENGAN PELANCARAN S.P.R.M. INI, MAKA AKAN TERBUKALAH SATU LEMBARAN BARU DALAM AGENDA INTEGRITI DAN ANTI-RASUAH NEGARA.
SAUDARA DAN SAUDARI SEKELIAN,
6. KERAJAAN TIDAK MAHU PENUBUHAN S.P.R.M. INI DILIHAT SEBAGAI RETORIK SEMATA-MATA ATAU DILIHAT SEKADAR PENJENAMAAN SEMULA DARI B.P.R. KE S.P.R.M. TANPA PERUBAHAN KETARA KE ATAS STRUKTUR DAN KEBERKESANANNYA. KERAJAAN SEDAR BAHAWA ISU-ISU BERHUBUNG PERSEPSI KETIDAKBEBASAN B.P.R., TUDUHAN SEBAGAI ‘HARIMAU TAK BERGIGI’, PENGUATKUASAAN TERPILIH, KELEWATAN BERTINDAK, SERTA TUDUHAN PENYIASATAN TIDAK PROFESIONAL, SEDIKIT-SEBANYAK TELAH MENJEJASKAN IMEJ DAN KREDIBILITI B.P.R..
7. MAKA DENGAN ITU, KERAJAAN MENGAMBIL KEPUTUSAN UNTUK MENGKAJI SEMULA STRUKTUR, PENDEKATAN SERTA BIDANG KUASA B.P.R. DAN MENGAMBIL TINDAKAN YANG WAJAR AGAR ISU-ISU NEGATIF TERSEBUT DAPAT DITANGANI DAN B.P.R. KEMBALI DISANJUNG RAKYAT SEBAGAI SATU INSTITUSI ANTI-RASUAH YANG DIHORMATI. �LANGKAH TERSEBUT JUGA DIANGGAP PENTING SUPAYA KEMAMPUAN PIHAK B.P.R. DAPAT DIPERKUKUHKAN LAGI SUPAYA IA DAPAT BERTINDAK DENGAN LEBIH BERKESAN LAGI DALAM AKTIVITI PENGUATKUASAAN DAN PENCEGAHAN RASUAH, SEPERTIMANA YANG DIMANDATKAN KE ATASNYA.
8. SAYA PERCAYA BAHAWA DENGAN SEGALA PEMBAHARUAN DAN PENAMBAHBAIKAN YANG DILAKSANAKAN, S.P.R.M. MAMPU UNTUK MENJADI SEBUAH INSTITUSI ANTI-RASUAH YANG BUKAN SAHAJA UNGGUL DI TANAHAIR MALAH JUGA DI PERSADA ANTARABANGSA. SAYA JUGA MENARUH SEPENUH KEPERCAYAAN TERHADAP KEPIMPINAN S.P.R.M. UNTUK MEMBUAT PERANCANGAN YANG RAPI BAGI MENJADIKAN S.P.R.M. SEBAGAI SEBUAH AGENSI PENCEGAHAN RASUAH YANG DIHORMATI DAN DISEGANI DI RANTAU INI.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
9. THIS DATE, 24TH FEBRUARY 2009, MARKS THE BEGINNING OF A VERY IMPORTANT CHAPTER IN MALAYSIA’S AGENDA TO STRENGTHEN INTEGRITY AND FIGHT CORUPTION. ON THIS DAY, WE WITNESS THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE “MALAYSIAN ANTI-CORUPTION COMMISSION” (M.A.C.C.). �AS MALAYSIA’S OFFICIAL ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT BODY, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE M.A.C.C. INTO A FULL-FLEDGED COMMISSION AND THE STRENGTHENING OF ITS CAPACITY WILL INCREASE ITS DELIVERY AND EFFECTIVENESS, USHERING IN A NEW ERA IN THE WAR AGAINST GRAFT IN THE COUNTRY.
10. INDEED, OVER THE YEARS, MALAYSIA HAS TAKEN MANY CONCRETE AND POSITIVE STEPS TO REDUCE THE LEVEL OF CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY. WHILE STEADY PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, THE PERCEPTION THAT CORRUPTION STILL EXISTS WITHIN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR REMAINS. �THIS WAS ONE OF THE PRIMARY MOTIVATIONS THAT GALVANISED MY GOVERNMENT BACK IN 2004 TO MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION ACROSS THE BOARD AND IMPLEMENT ACTIONS AND POLICIES THAT ARE BASED ON GOOD GOVERNANCE PRINCIPLES.
11. IF CLOSELY EXAMINED, IT IS CLEAR THAT THE INTEGRITY AGENDA IS PROGRESSING WELL. �HOWEVER, PERHAPS THE PACE IS NOT AS QUICK AS THE PEOPLE WOULD WISH IT TO BE AND THIS HAS GIVEN RISE TO VARIOUS NEGATIVE PERCEPTIONS. �HOWEVER, AS THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES HAS SHOWN, BUILDING A NATION THAT EMBRACES INTEGRITY AND REJECTS A CULTURE OF CORRUPTION IS A LONG AND ARDUOUS PROCESS THAT TAKES MANY YEARS TO ACCOMPLISH.
12. NEVERTHELESS, MY GOVERNMENT IS AWARE THAT MALAYSIANS ARE FULLY BEHIND THE INTEGRITY AND ANTI-CORRUPTON AGENDA. WE HAVE HEEDED THE PEOPLE’S CALL, AND OVER THE PAST YEAR IN PARTICULAR, A NUMBER OF CONCRETE STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO STRENGTHEN THE INTEGRITY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENDA. THIS INCLUDES THE REPLACEMENT OF THE “ANTI-CORUPTION ACT 1997” WITH THE MORE COMPREHENSIVE “MALAYSIAN ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION ACT 2008”, THE RESTRUCTURING OF THE ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY INTO A COMMISSION, AS WELL AS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF VARIOUS CHECKS AND BALANCE MECHANISMS TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH MECHANISMS FOR EXTERNAL OVERSIGHT, INCLUDING “THE ANTI-CORRUPTION ADVISORY BOARD” AND THE “SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON CORRUPTION”.
13. EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE M.A.C.C. IS FULLY EQUIPPED TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT AGENCY – ONE THAT IS UP TO THE REQUIREMENTS TO FIGHT MODERN-DAY CORRUPTION AND IN LINE WITH THE ASPIRATIONS OF MALAYSIANS. AS SUCH, THE M.A.C.C. HAS BEEN MODELED AFTER SOME OF THE BEST ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCIES IN THE WORLD, SUCH AS THE “INDEPENDENT COMMISSION ON ANTI-CORRUPTION” (I.C.A.C.) HONG KONG AND THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA.
14. THE M.A.C.C. HAS ALSO BEEN GIVEN ADDITIONAL LEGAL POWERS THAT WILL ENABLE IT TO INVESTIGATE CERTAIN FORMS OF CORRUPTION HITHERTO OUT OF ITS JURISDICTION. THIS WILL ENABLE THE M.A.C.C. TO WIDEN ITS NET TO INVESTIGATE NEWER FORMS OF CORRUPTION AND TO GATHER EVIDENCE MORE EFFECTIVELY, THUS RAISING ITS CONVICTION RATE.� THE M.A.C.C. WILL ALSO BE INCREASING THE SIZE OF ITS FORCE, INCLUDING INVESTIGATING OFFICERS, TO APPROXIMATELY 5,000 OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS.�
15. I AM CONFIDENT THAT THESE CHANGES WILL RAISE THE EFFECTIVENESS, EFFICIENCY AND TRANSPARENCY OF THE M.A.C.C., AND ENABLE IT TO TRANSFORM ITSELF INTO A WORLD-CLASS ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
16. WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MALAYSIAN ANTI-CORUPTION COMMISSION, THE HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE FOR A MORE EFFECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT ANTI-CORUPTION ENFORCEMENT BODY HAVE BEEN RAISED HIGHER THAN EVER. IN THIS REGARD, THE M.A.C.C. MUST BE ABLE TO STAND UP TO SCRUTINY.
17. ON THE GOVERNMENT’S PART, WE HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO IMPROVE THE STRUCTURE AND RAISE THE CAPACITY OF THE M.A.C.C., EQUIPPING IT WITH THE NECESSARY LEGAL, HUMAN RESOURCE AND OTHER SUCH KEY REQUIREMENTS IN ORDER FOR IT TO FIGHT CORRUPTION MORE EFFECTIVELY.� HOWEVER, I WOULD LIKE TO STRESS HERE THAT SUCH CHANGES ALONE WILL NOT GUARANTEE THE M.A.C.C.’S SUCCESS AS A TOP-NOTCH ANTI-CORRUPTION ENFORCEMENT BODY.
18. INDEED, MUCH OF THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF THE M.A.C.C. WILL BE DUE TO THE CONDUCT OF ITS OFFICERS IN CARRYING OUT THEIR DUTIES. WHILE I HAVE ALWAYS STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF THE M.A.C.C. IN CARRYING OUT ITS DUTIES WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR, IT IS ALSO PARAMOUNT FOR THE M.A.C.C. TO BE, AND TO BE SEEN TO BE, FAIR AND PROFESSIONAL IN ALL ITS DEALINGS.
19. IT IS THUS MY UTMOST HOPE THAT EACH AND EVERY OFFICER OF THE M.A.C.C., REGARDLESS OF POSITION OR RANK, CONDUCT THEIR DUTIES TO THE HIGHEST STANDARDS OF PROFFESIONALISM — DEDICATION, IMPARTIALITY AND FAIRNESS MUST NECESSARILY BE PART AND PARCEL OF YOUR JOB AS ANTI-CORRUPTION OFFICERS. IN THAT SENSE, YOUR CONDUCT — WHILE ON DUTY OR EVEN OFF DUTY — MUST ALWAYS BE BEYOND REPROACH AND IN CONFORMITY WITH THE LAWS OF THE LAND. IF NOT, ALL OUR EFFORTS THUS FAR TO IMPLEMENT INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS MAY COME TO NAUGHT.
20. HAVING SAID THAT, I BELIEVE THAT IN THE FOUR DECADES SINCE THE A.C.A. WAS FIRST ESTABLISHED, MUCH HAS BEEN LEARNED AND MUCH USEFUL INSIGHT GAINED. YOU HAVE BEEN THROUGH MANY UPS AND DOWNS IN THE COURSE OF CARRYING OUT YOUR DUTIES.� I WOULD THEREFORE URGE YOU TO USE THE EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM GAINED TO BETTER EQUIP YOURSELVES AND THE M.A.C.C. AS AN ORGANISATION TO CARRY OUT YOUR DUTIES PROFESSIONALLY AND TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITIES.
21. KNOW THAT ON YOUR SHOULDERS LIE THE HOPES OF THE NATION TO SEE THE SCOURGE OF CORRUPTION ELIMINATED. THIS IS OF COURSE A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY, AND ONE THAT MUST NECESSARILY BE SHARED WITH EACH AND EVERYONE IN SOCIETY.� NEVERTHELESS, WE ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR ROLE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST CORRUPTION AND WE VALUE YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS THUS FAR. ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO LOOK INTO THE PROVISION OF FURTHER RESOURCES AND INCENTIVES SO THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PERFORM EVEN BETTER IN YOUR DUTIES.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
22. THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION CANNOT BE MOUNTED, LET ALONE BE WON, BY THE POLICIES, CAMPAIGNS, LAWS AND PUNITIVE MEASURES IMPOSED BY THE GOVERNMENT ALONE.� JUST AS CORRUPTION AND INTEGRITY ARE ISSUES THAT PERMEATE AND INVOLVE THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY, SO TOO MUST THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION INVOLVE THE WHOLE OF SOCIETY. THIS INCLUDES THE PUBLIC SECTOR, PRIVATE SECTOR, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS (N.G.O.’S) AS WELL AS INDIVIDUALS.
23. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN CHOSEN TO SERVE ON THE VARIOUS NEW OVERSIGHT PANELS AND COMMITTEES THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED, YOU HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT TASK AT HAND. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU HAVE ALL BEEN CHOSEN BASED ON YOUR GOOD CHARACTER, INTEGRITY, EXPERTISE, LEADERSHIP ABILITY AND FOR THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE RENDERED TO SOCIETY THUS FAR. �THEREFORE, I BELIEVE THAT YOU MORE THAN WELL EQUIPPED TO CONTRIBUTE TO ENSURING THAT CORRUPTION IS FOUGHT MORE EFFECTIVELY FROM NOW ON. �I WOULD THUS URGE YOU TO USE THE POWERS EXTENDED TO YOU TO UPHOLD TRUTH AND JUSTICE AND TO HELP WEED OUT CORRUPTION WHEREVER IT MAY LURK.
24. LASTLY, I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE BARISAN NASIONAL GOVERNMENT, UNDER THE UPCOMING LEADERSHIP OF YAB DATO’ SERI MOHD NAJIB, WILL BE AS EQUALLY DETERMINED AND COMMITTED TO ENSURING THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF THE INTEGRITY AND ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENDA THAT WE AS A NATION HAVE EMBARKED UPON. �AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT MUST BE REMEMBERED THAT NO CHANGE OR IMPROVEMENT IN THE WAY WE MANAGE OUR ECONOMY OR BUSINESS CAN BE SUSTAINED IF OUR ATTITUDE TO GOOD GOVERNANCE IS OUT OF SYNC WITH THE PEOPLE’S ASPIRATIONS OR WITH CONTEMPORARY GLOBAL TRENDS.
25. THE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE, ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY ARE NO LONGER LUXURIES, BUT NECESSITIES. I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY WILL RESPOND POSITIVELY IN HELPING TO TRANSFORM OUR MORAL AND ETHICAL LANDSCAPE, AND THEREBY BRING ABOUT THE SORT OF CHANGE THAT WILL MAKE MALAYSIA STAND TALL AMONG THE MOST MORALLY-UPRIGHT AND LEAST CORRUPT NATIONS IN THE WORLD.
SAUDARA DAN SAUDARI SEKELIAN,
26. SESUNGGUHNYA, PERJUANGAN UNTUK MENEGAKKAN INTEGRITI DAN MEMBANTERAS RASUAH ADALAH SATU PERJUANGAN YANG SUCI LAGI MURNI. �KITA HARUS INGAT BAHAWA PERJUANGAN KITA SEKARANG ADALAH UNTUK MENENTUKAN MASA DEPAN YANG LEBIH CEMERLANG. WALAUPUN TIDAK MELIBATKAN PENGORBANAN DARAH DAN NYAWA, NAMUN PERJUANGAN KITA TETAP BERNILAI BAGI GENERASI YANG AKAN DATANG.
27. AKHIR KATA, SAYA BERHARAP AGAR SEMUA PIHAK AKAN MELAKSANAKAN TUGAS MASING-MASING DENGAN JUJUR LAGI BERAMANAH. MUDAH-MUDAHAN USAHA MURNI KITA UNTUK MEMUPUK BUDAYA INTEGRITI DAN MEMBANTERAS RASUAH AKAN MENDAPAT BERKAT, RAHMAT DAN PERLINDUNGAN DARI ALLAH S.W.T. JUA.
28. MAKA DENGAN ITU, BESERTA DENGAN LAFAZ BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM, SAYA DENGAN SUKACITANYA MELANCARKAN SECARA RASMI SURUHANJAYA PENCEGAHAN RASUAH MALAYSIA (S.P.R.M.).
SEKIAN, TERIMA KASIH.