Act on reform demands or protests will continue, says anti-graft rally organiser

Act on reform demands or protests will continue, says anti-graft rally organiser

Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah submits a memorandum outlining the demands to MPs near Parliament today.

SEKRETARIAT RAKYAT BENCI RASUAH MEMORANDUM - JALAN PARLIAMEN
Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah secretary Zaim Zulkifli (fourth from right) handing over the memorandum on behalf of the group to Sungai Petani MP Taufiq Johari.
KUALA LUMPUR:
The organisers of last month’s anti-corruption rally today warned that they would escalate their protests if their reform demands remain unaddressed by the government.

Sekretariat Rakyat Benci Rasuah secretary Zaim Zulkifli said this after delivering a memorandum to Sungai Petani MP Taufiq Johari, with 15 other government MPs in attendance.

“If you remain stubborn and unresponsive, we will take to the streets again – in larger numbers, with greater intensity, and with unstoppable momentum,” he said at a press conference near the Parliament building today.

Zaim said they were not accusing the government of being corrupt, but that the inaction suggested that Pakatan Harapan was complicit in enabling it.

“To Mr Anwar Ibrahim (prime minister), do not let the word ‘Reformasi’ be in vain. The people elected you and your party in the hope that Malaysia could be saved from corruption.”

The memorandum outlined three key demands: the expedited separation of the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the deputy public prosecutor’s office from the Prime Minister’s Office, the establishment of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission as an independent body, and the introduction of a Political Financing Act.

These demands were made by the secretariat earlier this year during the protest in which over 200 protesters marched from the Sogo shopping complex to Dataran Merdeka, calling for stronger action against corruption.

The group said its demands were based on a proposal by the Malaysian Parliamentary Cross-Party Group on Integrity, Governance, and Anti-Corruption.

Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh, one of the MPs present, said the secretariat’s efforts were a reminder for lawmakers to fulfil their responsibilities with integrity.

He also said the government and the prime minister would give due consideration to the demands.

“Corruption is a problem we must address, and we must ensure that it is properly handled. I also want to inform the students that efforts are already being made,” he said.

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