by Din Merican
On December 30, 2010, I posted Tan Sri Robert Phang's New Year's Press Statement because I share his wishes and hopes for all Malaysians that God's Blessings be upon all of us, that we become a truly 1Malaysia natiostarted, that wish was immediately dashed yesterday when the MACC Corruption Prevention Panel Chairman, Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, declared that the MACC Board members and Panel Advisers were satisfied with A-G Gani Patail's explanation of his recent haj pilgrimage to Mecca with Tajuddin's proxy, Shahidan Shafie.
Ramon said that the MACC Board and Panel members were satisfied with A-G Gani Patail's explanation and found that there was no need to investigate the allegations. That is indeed amusing.
Overzealous Ramon Navaratnam should resign
In short, the MACC Board and Panel members had cleared A-G Gani Patail without even investigating the allegations. Ramon's statement and clearing of A-G Gani Patail without an investigation violate the very cardinal function of the MACC as set out under section 7 (b) of the MACC Act, which is to detect and investigate:
i) any suspected offence under this Act;
ii) any suspected attempt to commit any offence under this Act;
iii) any suspect ted conspiracy to commit any offence under this Act.