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DEC 28 – Just when you think that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission can’t surprise you anymore, it does. And not quite in a good way.

It now wants missing private detective P. Balasubramaniam to formally write about his allegations surrounding the killing of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu.

They don’t want emails and the series of videotaped interviews available at the Malaysia-Today news portal and YouTube won’t cut it. The MACC wants it done formally or nothing doing.

It doesn’t matter that Bala’s claims are outrageous and links Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his family to the mysterious murder, for which two policemen are facing the hangman’s noose.

It doesn’t matter that the MACC has never revealed if others had written formally to complain that dead political aide Teoh Beng Hock pocketed RM112 when ordering flags for the Selangor government.

Is it a wonder then Malaysia’s anti-graft crackdown is, in reality, a breakdown that has seen the country plunge nine places to 56 on the Transparency International corruption rankings?

Yes, people allege corruption all the time in Malaysia when projects are awarded or if they fail. Or when buildings are put up. Or fall down.

But it is the MACC’s job to sift through the chaff and discover the truth and reveal the corruption and bring the culprits to book.

It already promises that much in its website www.sprm.gov.my, where it provides six ways of giving or passing information or tip-offs on corrupt practices.

The six ways are:

1. Personally make a report at the nearest MACC office

2. Use the MACC website - www.sprm.gov.my

3. Information through SMS - type the information and send to 019-6000696

4. Email: info@sprm.gov.my This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

5. Write a letter to Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia Peti Surat 6000,62007 Putrajaya or its offices in any of the states (without a stamp)

6. MACC Toll-free line 1-800-88-6000

Well, Bala has already utilised one of the ways by sending an email through his lawyer. Isn’t that enough for the MACC to act on?

For many, it is expected that the MACC won’t act on anything detrimental to the ruling Barisan Nasional federal government. So it’s not a surprise if nothing develops from Bala’s claims.

It’s just incredible that it has the gall to ask for a formal submission before it will look into Bala’s allegations. And if he does that, would there be more conditions?

It would seem that to make MACC work is a greater effort than expected. At the very least, it should work to clear the stench of allegations that surround the sitting prime minister.

Right now, that stench is exacerbated by the stink of glaring inaction on MACC’s part.