I refer to the Malaysiakini report 'Korean scandal': Tourism DG vows to act .

I sniggered with amusement when I read that Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor to deal with the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) regarding the ‘Korean scandal’. Isn’t that like asking the wolf to deal with the farmers on why so many goats have been missing from the farm?

The PM might as well have come out openly and said that he wants the matter closed for good as it is damaging our nation’s image. That would have been a quicker option, but then again, elections are around the corner and so diplomacy has to take centre stage and a cover-up has to look at least semi-authentic.

Everyone in the industry knows that mega-bucks spent on advertising campaigns have long been a ‘modus operandi’ of the corrupt to siphon funds into personal accounts. This has been happening for a long time both in the private and government sectors. The bigger the advertising budget, the greater the hanky-panky.

No prizes for guessing the size of the annual advertising budget of our Tourism Ministry. Guess what was the budget for the recent Visit Malaysia campaign? Many can’t even count that high but just take a look at the poor quality of the advertising campaigns.

Two companies that come to mind for mega-advertising budgets are Malaysia Airlines (during the former management) and Telekom Malaysia, the later which recently undertook a full-scale brand/ advertising campaign. Basically, TM spent hundreds of millions of ringgit to change their corporate colour from blue to orange. Of course, senior management was very pleased with the colour change.

Corruption is at the core of every aspect of Malaysian life. Corruption in advertising and promotions runs into the hundreds of millions each year. The Korean scandal is only a drop in the ocean.

Over the last few weeks, the Toursim Ministry awarded more Advertising & Promotion contracts to some advertising companies for exorbitant amounts. Many of these companies are unknown in the advertising fraternity and would not be able to secure any contracts in an ethical society. Mr Prime Minister, maybe we can put another wolf to check on these contracts awarded?