Malaysia's corruption rogues gallery
The Commission's gallery of convicted offenders is here: https://www.sprm.gov.my/index.php?id=21&page_id=96. The Commission is clear as to the purpose of what it calls its database: "The database serves as a vital awareness tool to assist the public and organisations in assisting in the due diligence process concerning hiring, appointment and promotion of employees. "
The information provided is detailed personal information and details of the offence going far beyond the section under which the offender was charged.
Something that stands out is that the amount in issue for each charge is often surprisingly small emphasising that corruption happens at all levels.
The website also contains a wide range of educational material aimed at ordinary people doing ordinary jobs, encouraging awareness of how what might seem in the ordinary course of business might be an entry into a corrupt relationship.
The website also includes a powerful rebuttal of a claim by a pressure group, Lawyers for Liberty, that a witness summons issued to a lawyer is a form of intimidation: The Commission makes it clear that lawyer-client privilege is preserved but that matters falling outside that must be investigated and that, save where privilege applies, material held by a lawyer can be subject to an order to produce.
This is consistent with the general principle of litigation privilege and like many countries, Malaysia has not gone down the route of "legal advice privilege" which provides near-absolute privilege for all communications between a client and a lawyer and materials which have passed between them.
The website is at https://www.sprm.gov.my


