When a society has limited accountability and when personal interest is put ahead, corruption will begin to rear its ugly head. This will, in turn, weigh down a country's progress. Our country cannot afford corruption to spiral if it desires to achieve developed status by 2020.

Many investors have turned away from the country, crime rates have increased and the people have resorted to 'paying off' to get things accomplished to the detriment of social well-being. There has been an increase in smuggling activities, drug trafficking and in the influx of illegals into the country. These wrongdoers can get off the hook by resorting to bribery.

In fact, corruption at any level in society will help encourage unlawful activities. History has proven that many countries have been ruined and the system of government drastically changed just because the people and the authorities are corrupted to the core. When this happens nothing civil can be done anymore to resolve the problem. The people will begin to look for unconventional means to survive, such as resorting to threats and crime and this is going to be dreadful for a democratic country.

Corruption is a symptom of deep problems in a society that could cause many conflicts and indirectly but ultimately degrade the whole society morally. Closing our eyes to corruption will cause it to spiral and become a more rampant practice in our society. Society has to learn to turn its back on corruption - if they truly understand the meaning of self-rule or independence - before it becomes a social menace that will rent the fabric of the nation as has happened before in many other countries.

The people should try hard to say no to bribery even if this is going to cause them some hardship. There are those who resort to bribery to get what they want from an authority such as a government project, to get things through at the customs or perhaps when stopped by the police for a traffic offence. If they are harassed by officers asking for bribes, they should be sturdy enough not to succumb to their tricks.

Report the matter to a higher or independent body such as the Anti-Corruption Agency. The fear that there will be a backlash should not be an issue if complaints are immediately lodged against some of these dodgy characters.

Society also needs more informants or whistleblowers who can help the authorities curb this menace. Also ensure that the punishment for both givers and takers in corruption are severe enough to deter them from indulging in such an immoral activity.

Corruption in any form is against the edicts of all major religions. This can be taught in schools and emphasised all the way through. Teach school children that they should not resort to bribing if they have done a wrong. Educate our children that accepting bribes of any kind is morally and religiously wrong. Teach them the benefits and importance of honesty and to strictly follow all laws and rules. These children, hopefully, will grow up to abhor bribery and not to have the habit of abusing the power given to them.

When justice prevails in a civil society, rest assured the government will get overwhelming support from the majority of its people. The government, on its part, should play its role without fear or favour in fighting corruption before it becomes a cancerous phenomenon in our society. To work towards eradicating corruption is patriotism. Our Merdeka Day can be best celebrated only when both its people and leaders are all up in arms over corruption.