It's a shame to hear that the Parliamentary Select Committee on Integrity has refused to hold a hearing on the explosive allegations by Mohamad Ramli Abdul Manan regarding the former Anti-Corruption Agency Sabah director-general's allegations of corruption, sexual assault and misuse of power against the agency's chief.

We must be creating higher standards for others to follow. The message the parliamentarians are sending out to the Malaysian society is completely unacceptable.

It's okay to misuse power because those in power will close one eye - this is the view of the Prime Minister's Department. So, all this talk about making changes and being transparent is just talk to give our propaganda press something to chew on.

It's clear the prime minister has no guts to bring the big culprits to justice, or is he worried about his support and does not want to stir the Umno chieftains who will go against him if he exposes the corrupt. This shows the BN is not capable and will not act when one of their leaders are involved.

Here is a man who is willing to give evidence in black and white, and Parliament backs down. How do you expect the public to have faith in this body which stands for justice, fairness and transparency? As an institution of democracy, the elected leaders are expected to stand up without fear or favour.

Shame on you, members of parliament. Shame on you.

The writer is deputy secretary-general of Party Keadilan Rakyat.