Battling against all odds

Professor Tan Sri Dato' Dzulkifli Abdul Razak
My View - The Sun Daily
September 23, 2015

THE battle against corruption is always an "uneven" one. The corrupters have the upper hand with not only the force of material wealth and money backing them, but also that of influence and position of power. The last two seem to be somewhat proportional to the "size" or "stature" of the case involved which can prove to be more complex. It could be mysterious as other crimes could be implicated at the same time.

The one that seems to linger in our collective memory is that of Abdul Jalil Ibrahim, an auditor, who was murdered in Hong Kong. He was tasked to investigate the then alleged corruption in a Malaysian bank implicating many prominent people. His death came as a shock to the nation when his body was found dumped unceremoniously in a banana grove in the British territory. More so as the deceased was known to many as someone of admirable character and impeccable professionalism. More than three decades later, the tragedy remains a mystery, as some of the key figures purportedly involved have also left the scene permanently. Chances are the case will be buried with them for good.

Such are the fates of those who are called to fight the crime of corruption, invariably relatively poorly "protected" against the forces of the corrupters and their band of merry men.

So the name "Bukit Jalil" came into being as a mark of a heroic act to solve what was then reportedly dubbed as the world's biggest bank failure, and certainly Asia's largest corporate scandal. With the name now noted for sporting and cultural events, its link to anti-corruption measures does not ring a bell any more, especially to the younger generation.

Moreover as Malaysian sports has had its own share of failures and scandals that have now become somewhat routine, the fight against corruption is not the first thing that comes to mind as far as Bukit Jalil is concerned.

Hence the report of the demise of Anthony Kevin Morias last week brought back vividly the pain and agony, not only of what the widow and family of Abdul Jalil went through, but also that of the entire nation then. Although the case may not be similar, being a deputy public prosecutor at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Kevin was involved in investigating cases linked to corrupt practices. And like Abdul Jalil, he was a dedicated public servant known for his no-nonsense attitude in carrying out his professional duties. His murder reportedly was just as "brutal" – the body stuffed in a concrete-filled drum was found dumped in a storm drain in Subang.

According to reports, Kevin was "bludgeoned to death" following his abduction early this month. He was last seen leaving his condominium on Sept 4.

In a way it is all the more tragic since all these happenings took place in the country where Bukit Jalil stands as a visible national "monument" to remind us of the gruesome killing that had once taken the country by storm.

It is obvious that Bukit Jalil – a symbol of the country's determination to battle corruption – has not been enough to heighten our conscience. This was made clear when the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman, Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, deemed it fit to urge the Attorney-General's Chambers and the Royal Malaysian Police to draw up a standard operating procedure (SOP) to improve the safety of public prosecutors. He rightly said that we should take the murder "as a lesson so that it would not recur". Lest we forget, this was the precise message that was intended when Bukit Jalil was so named – but yet we forgot, all too soon.

Perhaps another prominent hill named after Kevin Morais would make a difference, beyond the proposed SOP. But I would think twice because we could again take their names in vain, if another such episode was repeated in the not too distant future. It is relatively easy to name something after someone with all the good intentions. But to live up to it is an uphill battle notably when the culture of corruption is becoming intractable.

At the moment, let us mourn the loss of yet another hero who sacrificed his life and added to the dignity of the country. We can only say, "Thank you, Kevin. Malaysia salutes you for the bravery shown for all of us to emulate. You have made us proud. May you rest in peace."