PM'S GRAFT WARNING

By : TERENCE FERNANDEZ (MM)

THE QUARTERLY four-eyed meetings between the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues will be taking on a different twist as Datuk Seri Najib Razak reminds them individually to ensure their respective ministries are not encumbered with corruption and excesses.

Highly-placed sources tell The Malay Mail Najib will be issuing ‘final warnings’ to some ministers to ensure they weed out corrupt practices in their ministries and are not involved in it themselves.

“They are also going to be reminded to ensure the success of the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and that their ministries are not lagging behind,” said a source.

When contacted, Najib's press secretary, Datuk Tengku Sharifuddin Tengku Ahmad, played down the meetings, saying they were regular and procedural.

“He's just meeting them over the midterm performance review,” Tengku Sharifuddin said.

However, it is understood these meetings have taken a form of urgency following briefings from the top two lawmen – Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed – as well as the Special Committee Against Corruption.

Najib was updated on several cases involving high-profile political personalities.

"The definition of corruption is such where although one cannot prove corruption, as the law places evidential burdens, that does not mean corruption or abuse of power did not take place," said a source, adding that where the law had failed, it was hoped the respective political parties would do the needful to quell the negative public perception.

“This includes getting some of them to resign quietly,” said another high-ranking source.

Several ministers contacted had yet to be called but said they are ready to answer any hard questions posed by Najib as he tries to clean up the government machinery and delivery processes in time for the next general election.

“I have not been called yet,” said Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, adding that Najib had always advised his Cabinet to be diligent and ensure no hanky-panky in their respective ministries.

Liow, who is the MCA deputy president, added that if law enforcement authorities could not do anything, then it was incumbent on the respective party to address perception by taking the necessary action, including dropping the minister from future elections.