LABUAN: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should not expect the public to hold it in high regard even with a new chief at the helm, if it decides not to appeal against the recent “mild” sentencing of former Sabah Water Department Director Ag Mohd Tahir Talib.
Activist Hj Abdul Jalil Haji Ghani said the 96 years’ jail and 78 months more if Awang Mohd Tahir Mohd Talib failed to pay the RM284.3 million fine was actually a “slap on the wrist” considering that he would only serve eight years as the sentences for the main charges in the 12 counts would run concurrently.
“Even netizens are of the view that the Special Corruption Court fell short of delivering a strong message to future offenders when corruption is the Number One issue that the Madani Government of Prime Minister Dautk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is trying to address,” said Jalil.
The trial took eight years and so much of court’s time. It happened in 2016 and it was only after the first Pakatan Harapan (PH) took over the Federal Government from Barisan Nasional that the trial started moving.
“Awang Tahir may even be out in lesser time if good behaviour and consideration for weekends and public holidays are taken into account.”
Jalil said the court letting off former Deputy Director Lim Lam Beng and Awang Tahir’s wife Fauziah Piut should similarly be reviewed.
He said although the current Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government is doing its utmost to meet the peoples’ expectation for safe and reliable water, thousands still face water shortages on a daily basis.
“Muslims were unable to rely on treated water for their religious obligations during Ramadan and there were reports of insufficient water supply to bathe corpses all because of the corrupt activities going on behind closed doors at the highest level,” he said.
He said the pictures of bundles of Ringgit notes bursting from shelves or found stuffed in vehicles were still fresh in people’s minds.
Jalil noted that two past State Industrial development Ministers, under whom the department came under, were also dragged into the scandal. Both Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan and Datuk Raymond Tan, denied any wrongdoing.
“Prolonged dry taps with clean water could lead to umpteen health problems and just because of the wrongdoings in the departments thousands faced misery and dented investors in the state.
“The reports of Universiti Malaysia Sabah students forced to go about their lives without water also angered the public with some unfairly making fun of the Sabah Maju Jaya slogan.”
Counsel for Awang Tahir and Lam said they would appeal against the verdict.
Recalling some of the stories Jalil said some described the water problem as that of a near crisis magnitude putting pressure on the state government and students at UMS KK hard hit went on a rare protest outcry resulting in additional approved to overcome the problem.
“Much of these would have been avoided if it was not rotten at the top”, declared Jalil.
He said the Madani government was bent on eradication corruption.
“I feel strong verdicts would assist in the government’s efforts.”
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