[COLUMNIST] The power of investigative journalism

The media and investigative journalism in many countries work to a new level together with data scientists in bringing allegations of corruption to light, fighting against impunity and as the functioning of the democratic process.

The media acts as a bipartisan observer which reports and can demand accountability and transparency from the public and private sectors.

Investigative journalism exposes fraud, abuse of power and misuse of public funds practised on a large scale using elaborate schemes, usually with state sanction - commonly referred to as institutional corruption. The Panama and Pandora Papers were a good example.

The Panama and Pandora Papers investigation unmasked the covert owners of offshore companies, incognito bank accounts, private jets, yachts, mansions, even artworks and other assets through complex offshore arrangements.

Offshore company such as Labuan is incorporated for the purpose of operating outside the country of its registration.

A company may legitimately move offshore for the purpose of tax avoidance or to enjoy relaxed regulations as well as can be used for illicit purposes by exploiting secrecy provisions such as money laundering, tax evasion and financial crimes.

In 2016, the Panama Papers were released by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists(ICIJ) exposing the complex methods used to conceal beneficial ownership of companies, an effort involving 370 investigative journalists in 76 countries working in 25 languages.

They exposed 143 politicians, including 12 national leaders, their families and close associates, who used offshore tax havens to avoid paying taxes and conceal their wealth via secretive offshore companies. Malaysian politicians and elitists were also on the list.

On October 3, 2021. ICIJ again made public the Pandora Papers is the largest trove of leaked offshore data in history involving some 11.9 million documents and 2.9 terabytes of data suppostly used to expose supposedly corrupt dealings of the global elite.

They exposed the offshore accounts and trusts coming from offshore service providers operating in Anguilla, Belize, Singapore, Switzerland, Panama, Barbados, Cyprus, Dubai, the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, Seychelles, Vietnam and Malaysia. They used to stash away their cash belonged to the present leaders such as presidents, prime ministers, billionaires and businessmen.

Local media stated that former British prime minister Tony Blair and the current Kenan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, including businessmen and our two former finance ministers of finance are also named.

Journalists must understand the basic rules of corruption investigations and the common methods used to perpetrate corrupt acts.

They must be able to uncover how unethical politicians and public officials misuse public funds, contracts collude with the private sector, hide their actions and live beyond their means.

One major element that can determine the effectiveness of investigative journalism is the level of media freedom and ability of journalists to work without fear.

United Nation expert warns of dangerous decline in media freedom. This is true where media freedom around the world fell to its lowest level in a decade, with journalists threatened by government censorship and organised crime.

Malaysia is ranked 113th position in the World Press Freedom Index 2022 while Singapore ranked 139 out of 180 countries.

We have seen quite encouraging examples of investigative journalism here. Clare Newcastle Brown Sarawak-born is a UK investigative journalist reported extensively on the famous 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal against the former Malaysian Prime Minister.

Najib has been in 12-year prison sentence and prison RM210 million fine for embezzling RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd. Najib also faces four other criminal trials related to the 1MDB financial scandal.

In 2015, reporting of the grisly discovery of mass graves and human trafficking camps involving foreign refugees at Wang Kelian near our northern border resulted in the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry. Unfortunately, the results of the probe remain unpublished and the real masterminds are still not prosecuted.

Journalists should be granted protection from being sued or prosecuted. In return, journalists must remain objective.

We need good investigative journalists and reports clearly show the evidence and ensure the sources corroborate the allegations, helping law enforcement agencies complete investigations faster.

They should also have good sources, including relying on whistleblowers. Protection of whistleblowers based on the right to freedom of expression must be provided. To improve, they should form a local association and undergo specific training.

Younger investigative journalists, especially those from Gen Z, should take advantage of digital technology, big data and data analytical tools to uncover information and build their case.

The investigative journalists should be brave, accountable and can unveil the truth about particular individuals, syndicates or companies and bring these matters to the public's attention accountable for their illegal activities

Investigative journalism remains an important tool in helping uncover information that people in power would like to keep secret and to identify and stop the spread of systemic and institutional corruption in Malaysia.

We need to produce more good Investigative journalists, support and defend investigative journalism in Malaysia!

---

* Datuk Sri Akhbar Satar holds the professorial chair and Director at Institute of Crime and Criminology(ICC), HELP University and former president Transparency International Malaysia.