Emblazoning the car is no answer

And what did those MPs have for personal use? Not surprisingly, they preferred low-cost cars for themselves. In other words, there is a positive signal one can read into the thicket of otherwise negative impressions which is that they can make do with low-cost cars behooving one would have thought their basic identity as elected public representatives supposed to be dedicated to the service of the people.

Kudos again to the NBR for the treat of a revelation! But just. Because the revenue authority's bravado ends when it seems to be balking at taking follow up action on the disclosures. It was reported sometime ago that the NBR was hesitant in probing the matter further because of a certain perceived sensitivity in dealing with parliamentarians and politicians. Nevertheless, our understanding is that the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) is willing to take cognisance of the allegations and investigate them.

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Earlier on we suggested that the NBR extend all out cooperation to the ACC when it takes up the matter. However, the latest spin to the story comes from a reported brain wave for imprinting the monograms of the JS and NBR on the doors of the imported cars so that these wouldn't be used by non-MPs.

But our observation is that when the enforcement weakness is dire it takes all sorts of escape routes. The real issue is holding the MPs, found guilty of misfeasance through proper investigations, responsible for their act.