The 'Integrity in the construction sector' two-day forum held recently saw the spilling of beans in public. Credit should be given to those who spoke at the forum in exposing various aspects of graft, unhealthy practices and concerns plaguing the construction sector in the country.

Just as honest contractors and property owners were beginning to celebrate that finally their miseries are being presented openly, the subsequent responses and remarks from some leaders could very likely extinguish this flicker of hope in the hearts of concerned citizens.

To demand that those who spoke provide proof of graft and mal-practices crippling this industry is seriously tantamount to challenging them into a corner. To further challenge those who are complaining in public to 'write first' and 'talk later' is again bordering on making veiled threats.

One would have expected a strategic public relations response from our authorities, that would help enhance their image and reputation and at the same time continue to inspire citizens to come forward to tell all without fear of reprimand or retribution. That alone would have driven some cold fear into the bones of habitual bribery practitioners.

But to even dismiss the former ACA director-general's reported statement that 'it is the failure of the delivery system' and that 'industry players are suffering because of red tape' is sufficient to make any citizen to go away convinced that there is no more light at the end of the tunnel. Worst, such dismissals would in all eventuality make a good reason for jubilation amongst the corrupt.

It is most unfortunate that when the prime minister is prodding, prompting and encouraging everyone to join in the nation's fight against all forms of corruption - be it bribery, shoddy and short-changed delivery and service - we are also getting signals to the contrary from some quarters.

The least that the authorities could have said in response to the recent exposures and expressed concerns at the two-day forum is to reassure the public that their relevant officers have been charged to immediately look into the disclosures besides express concern that they would help in every way to get to top the bottom of all these concerns and issues.

But that is not happening and one wonders if it ever will.

So, in the meantime, every house owner who feels cheated; every contractor who feels that he can no longer continue to sustain his business if he wants to walk the straight path, and every employee who feels that peer pressure is killing his conscience, will all have to continue to shut up and pretend that all is well.

If the authorities still cannot admit that there are serious issues ailing the industry, then there is only one affirmation. And that is they are completely out of touch with what is happening on the shop floor. This then is most unfortunate.

For when it is common conversation at teh tarik sessions and office corridors that the industry is highly corrupted and riddled with red tape, there must be some truth.