"robbery by the minute," - Anwar Ibrahim

 

PUTRAJAYA:  Privatisation that ignores governance and accountability risks becoming "robbery by the minute," or what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described as "piratisation." LINK

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim says the government must be open to feedback and criticism for the nation to progress. LINK Here is my open criticism. 

Empty Rhetoric in the Face of Bureaucratic Inaction

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has repeatedly positioned himself as a champion of reform, promising a Malaysia rooted in transparency, accountability, and good governance. His public statements, often cloaked in the language of justice and public service, paint a picture of a government responsive to its citizens. Yet, for all his lofty pronouncements, the reality on the ground tells a starkly different story—one of bureaucratic inertia, unaddressed grievances, and a troubling disregard for the very principles he claims to uphold. My personal experience with the Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), the Housing and Urban Development Board (LPPB), and the Land and Survey Department (LJS) lays bare the hollowness of Anwar’s rhetoric. When a citizen’s legitimate complaints are met with silence, deflections, and outright dismissal, it becomes clear that the Prime Minister’s promises are little more than words, disconnected from the machinery of governance he claims to lead.

For years, I have sought answers regarding serious governance issues involving DBKK, LPPB, and LJS. My complaints, meticulously documented and submitted through proper channels, center on allegations of misconduct, including the issuance of an Occupancy Certificate for the Vistana Heights project based on what I believe to be a fabricated as-built survey plan. These are not trivial matters. They involve potential violations of professional standards, questions of integrity in public institutions, and the very trust citizens place in their government to uphold fairness and accountability. Yet, despite my persistent efforts—through emails, formal complaints, and direct appeals—these agencies have shown a remarkable lack of urgency, professionalism, or even basic courtesy in responding.

DBKK, tasked with overseeing the development and administration of Kota Kinabalu, has been particularly egregious in its silence. My emails to the director and mayor have gone unanswered, and in a particularly galling instance, there are indications that minutes of meetings have been altered to obscure or misrepresent discussions. This is not the behavior of an institution committed to transparency or public service. It is the hallmark of a system that prioritizes self-preservation over accountability. LPPB, under the leadership of General Manager Rosemary Ahping, has similarly failed to engage with my concerns, despite their role in ensuring proper housing and urban development processes. The lack of response from these bodies is not just an administrative oversight; it is a deliberate choice to ignore a citizen’s plea for clarity and justice.

Perhaps the most infuriating response—or lack thereof—has come from the Land and Survey Department (LJS). When I raised specific, straightforward questions about the as-built survey and the processes surrounding the Vistana Heights project, the director’s response was not to provide answers but to deflect, advising me to “take legal action.” This directive is both astonishing and unacceptable. Why should a citizen be forced to resort to costly and time-consuming legal proceedings to obtain answers that a public servant could provide with minimal effort? The LJS, as the regulatory body overseeing licensed surveyors in Sabah, has a clear mandate to investigate allegations of professional misconduct. My complaint, lodged on December 15, 2022, explicitly alleged that the as-built survey was fabricated—a serious charge that warrants thorough investigation. Yet, despite assurances of follow-up, including a site visit on June 28, 2023, and promises to share survey points, the LJS has provided no meaningful updates. Their vague reference to “awaiting authority” raises more questions than answers: Which authority? Why the delay? And why has my direct question about this so-called authority gone unanswered?

This pattern of inaction is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a broader failure in governance under Anwar Ibrahim’s administration. The Prime Minister has spoken at length about rooting out corruption and fostering a culture of accountability. Yet, when faced with concrete allegations of misconduct involving public institutions, his government’s response—through its agencies—is to stonewall, deflect, and dismiss. This is not reform; it is the perpetuation of a system that protects its own while leaving citizens to fend for themselves.

Anwar’s public statements often invoke the principles of justice and fairness, but what justice is served when a citizen’s complaints are ignored? What fairness exists when public officials refuse to answer basic questions, forcing individuals to navigate a labyrinth of bureaucracy or expensive legal battles? The Prime Minister’s rhetoric about good governance rings hollow when agencies like DBKK, LPPB, and LJS operate with apparent impunity, free from the oversight or accountability he claims to champion. If Anwar truly believes in the principles he espouses, he must address the failures of these institutions head-on. Silence from his administration only reinforces the perception that his promises are mere posturing, designed to placate rather than deliver.

The case of the Vistana Heights project is particularly illustrative of the disconnect between Anwar’s words and reality. The issuance of an Occupancy Certificate based on a potentially fabricated survey plan is not a minor administrative error; it is a breach of public trust that demands investigation and accountability. Licensed surveyors, architects, and public officials involved in such processes are not above scrutiny. Yet, when I raised these concerns with the relevant authorities—DBKK, LPPB, LJS, and even the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC)—the response was either silence or deflection. The LJS, for instance, has the authority to declare a survey null and void if misconduct is proven, which could invalidate approvals based on it. Instead of exercising this authority or providing clarity, they have stalled, leaving me in limbo.

This is not just my story; it is the story of countless Malaysians who encounter a bureaucratic wall when seeking answers from their government. Anwar Ibrahim’s administration cannot claim to be reformist while allowing such failures to persist. Good governance is not achieved through speeches or press releases; it is built through actions—through ensuring that public institutions respond to citizens, investigate allegations of misconduct, and hold wrongdoers accountable. The Prime Minister’s failure to ensure that DBKK, LPPB, and LJS address my complaints undermines his credibility and exposes the gap between his promises and the reality of governance in Malaysia.

I call on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to take immediate action. He must direct DBKK, LPPB, and LJS to respond to my complaints with the seriousness they deserve. The director of LJS must answer my questions without hiding behind vague references to “authority” or pushing me toward legal action. DBKK must address allegations of altered minutes and provide transparency on their processes. LPPB must clarify their role in the Vistana Heights project and why they have failed to engage with my concerns. If Anwar is serious about governance, he will not allow these agencies to operate as fiefdoms, immune to scrutiny or accountability.

The Malaysian public deserves better. We deserve a government that listens, responds, and acts. Anwar Ibrahim’s claims of reform are meaningless if citizens like me are left to battle unresponsive institutions alone. It is time for the Prime Minister to move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate that he understands the gravity of governance failures. Until he does, his promises will remain empty, and the trust of the people will continue to erode. The ball is in your court, Prime Minister. Act, or admit that your vision for Malaysia is just words on paper.