The spin doctors failed for once

How the government (read: PM Abdullah) should has handled the explosive allegations against ACA chief Zulkipli Mat Noor?

1. The moment the matter was first reported, PM Abdullah should have called all the media which had accompanied him to Syria and explained that he was suspending Zulkipli with immediate effect.

2. He should have then issued a press statement through his office saying that he was forming an independent commission to look into the allegations and to check if there was any cover up in the first place.

3. He will allow for a press conference again in Syrian or Yemen and say the independent commission will also recommend future measures in addressing tainted top civil servants.

4. He will say the usual natural justice argument that Zulkipli is still innocent until found guilt but the suspension was due to the fact that his government believed in transparency and being clean.

5. At the same time he would instruct his IGP to hold a press conference in KL, to explain why the matter was closed, or if the case remained opened, or that fresh investigations have started.

6. The AG too will release a press statement stating that they were re-looking at the charge papers and will institute proceedings, if there is a case.

7. In the meantime, the opposition would have commended the PM for being pro-active and will be jostling for a place in the independent commission.

8. After some time, the matter will come to a rest. Zulkipli will be asked to leave, with his pensions intact, and the independent commission will dish out its recommendations, only to be gathering dust at the PM’s office.

These would have solved the problems for the PM.

But, none of the above happened. PM was silent for three days after the issue broke and then finally did himself some damage by saying that Zulkipli was investigated twice before, and still given the task to head the ACA. How sad for PM’s battle against corruption.

In the meantime, both the IGP and the AG, especially the former, gave comments - and continue to give - to the media as they liked, causing so much of confusion.

And add to this the ministers like Nazri Aziz who blames the civil society for asking for a thorough investigations!

In between, we have the opposition asking for Pak Lah to show that he is serious about battling corruption. So far no news from the premier.

Instead of killing the matter at infancy, government incompetence has now dragged the whole lot - from the ACA chief right up to the PM - into the controversy.