The super rich must explain sources of wealth

Parliamentarians must be helpful in speaking out against corruption. - NSTP file pic

LETTERS: IT is commendable that the mass media, whether newspapers or digital media, are giving much more prominence to the current work of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

An appropriate acknowledgment and appreciation of the MACC's colossal role in combating abuse of office and corruption is long overdue.

Economist and academic administrator Tan Sri Kamal Salih stated some time ago that had over RM1 trillion mentioned in the Pandora papers not been frittered away, Malaysia may have been closer to achieving the Vision 2020 goal.

Another good point along the same line was made by a think tank, Emir Research, which estimated that RM4.5 trillion had disappeared from our public domain in a 26-year period.

These are startling, stupendous and stupefying sums of money in a country where even a million ringgit is unimaginable for almost 99 per cent of our population.

The MACC and media, as well as the government, must be supported and strengthened in the work that is being done. Parliamentarians must be helpful in speaking out against corruption.

The difficult and laborious work of the judiciary in providing fair trials to those accused of wrongdoing must be appreciated as well. It is commendable that under the current administration, the MACC is not hindered in its work.

As for the less than one per cent of the population that has acquired a net worth far out of proportion to the taxes, tithes and their known sources of income over decades, they must be able to account for their assets if they have lived honestly and honourably.

It is only fair that the super-wealthy group is given an opportunity to explain the sources of their wealth. At the same time, the MACC and other enforcement agencies must be given sufficient protection, space and resources to carry out this mammoth mission.

M. SANTHANANABAN

Kajang, Selangor

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The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times

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from
https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/letters/2024/01/1005449/super-rich-must-explain-sources-wealth