C4 Center Stands in Solidarity with Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah

18 JANUARY 2025

PRESS STATEMENT

On 25 January 2025, the Himpunan Rakyat Benci Rasuah anti-corruption rally will be held, organised by the Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah, a student-led group organised in the wake of the ongoing corruption scandal involving the Sabah state government. The rally as well as the public statements issued by the Sekretariat have since been publicly endorsed by civil society organisations and academics. The Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4 Center) adds our voice to the growing list of supporters, strongly endorsing collective citizen action against corruption, as well as strongly condemning the actions of government officials and influential individuals who have attempted to discourage or suppress the Sekretariat’s right to freedom of expression and assembly. 

The ongoing corruption scandal involves Sabah state assemblymen captured on audio and video by a whistleblower allegedly receiving bribes in exchange for government contracts to businesspeople. Several high-profile figures have been implicated, including Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, who has vehemently denied any corrupt activity taking place within his government. The recordings were sighted by online news portal Malaysiakini, who also reported that the whistleblower was seeking guarantees for protection before proceeding with a formal report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). However, the MACC refused any guarantees of whistleblower protection and this, coupled with the lack of accountability by Hajiji Noor and his government, have ignited public outcry over the government’s lack of action into effectively dealing with corruption allegations.

This adds to mounting doubt by members of the public and civil society over the government’s commitment to tackling corruption as espoused by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since taking office in 2022, where he promised sweeping institutional reforms to ensure transparency and accountability and a zero-tolerance attitude towards corruption in the public sector. Numerous events have compounded public dissatisfaction, such as:

  • The lack of anti-corruption reforms being enacted despite numerous promises, which include the separation of the Attorney General and Public Prosecutor offices and tabling of important anti-corruption laws;
  • The commutation of Najib Razak’s prison sentence and potential granting of house arrest for the remainder of his sentence;
  • Serious questions around the role of the Attorney General’s Chambers in various discharges not amounting to acquittal and acquittals involving politically powerful individuals, such as Zahid Hamidi, Rosmah Mansor, Najib Razak, and Bung Moktar;
  • The appointment of Musa Aman as Governor of Sabah, despite his implication in numerous corruption scandals;
  • The setting of weaker objectives in the newly introduced National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028 compared to the previous National Anti-Corruption Plan 2018-2023.

The upcoming rally is not the first of its kind as similar rallies have been held, most notably on 31 December 2024, where students from Suara Mahasiswa Universiti Malaysia Sabah marched in protest against the alleged corruption by Hajiji Noor and his government, as well as against the appointment of Musa Aman as Governor of Sabah. Throughout these events, the students have faced significant resistance, threat and harassment:

  • The rally was wrongfully declared illegal by the police;
  • Influential individuals in politics and university demanded that the students call off the rally;
  • Organisers faced allegations that their movement was funded by opposition groups
  • Pro-government group Sekretariat Gerakan Bangkit Sabahan announced its intention to pursue a RM5 million lawsuit against the rally organisers which include the students. 

Parties who are acting in favour of the government and on the government’s behalf are clearly suppressing these students’ right to freedom of assembly — Anwar Ibrahim, despite his own claims to anti-corruption, has not spoken up explicitly in support of the rally organisers or condemned the actions taken to suppress them.

Hence, C4 Center reiterates the calls made by the Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah to conduct fully transparent investigations into all allegations of corruption without fear or favour and for those found liable to face swift and decisive action. Additionally, C4 Center urges in the strongest possible terms for the government to introduce good governance laws and policies in order to remedy the systemic corruption that has become endemic within Malaysia’s political landscape. The Madani government can no longer rely on excuses and justifications of “incremental change” any longer.

END OF STATEMENT

Issued by:
Center to Combat Corruption & Cronyism (C4 Center)
For further enquiries, please contact:
c4center@gmail.com
019-216 6218

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