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Yesterday, crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah's father, former Agong Sultan Azlan Shah, reiterated that corruption and abuse of power in any government organisation are unacceptable. See context here: Malaysia 7955.

A day earlier, April 3, Malaysiakini editor Steven Gan writes an editorial to tell the Prime Minister: (You) Break the code, (you) pay the price.

Gan's context is about our current breed of 'cash-and-carry politicians', the handling of allegations against deputy minister Johari Baharum, and the case of the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) chief, whose contract's expiry date "was bumped up a few months to allow him a dignified exit", and In so doing, the government hopes the ugly stain on the ACA’s image will simply fade away. Quote:

But unlike earlier scandals, the mainstream media has curiously observed a code of silence on these new cases.

This was after stern warnings from the government to ignore reports on the Internet. It goes to prove, yet again, that the government has the power to turn the mainstream media on and off, much like flipping a switch.

All said, corruption goes beyond our cash-and-carry politicians and their buddies in the civil service and the corporate world.

It goes all the way to the top. The man who is leading the charge against graft - the prime minister himself - shows that he has no qualms in dabbling in what many would consider corrupt practices. [...]

If Abdullah is truly serious about fighting graft, he doesn’t really have to do much. This step alone should suffice - made public the assets declaration of all cabinet ministers, an action we had demanded in wake of his sweeping victory in 2004.

But he knows it cannot be done. Otherwise, half the cabinet would perhaps end up in prison.

Abdullah has argued, time and again, that he needs, yes, more time. This is becoming a tired old excuse.

To illustrate his case, Gan observed a total absurdity in the present administration.

"This has led to a situation bordering on the absurd - the embattled ACA has been tasked to investigate the deputy minister while the police, whose boss is the deputy minister, are probing the ex-ACA boss, who was once a top cop.

Oh dear, how do we make another punditry beyond 7955?