The problem of corruption is not corruption per se but society's acceptance of corruption as a way of life. That is known as the culture of corruption. Do Malaysians have such a culture? Take a recent news reports in one of the English-language newspapers.
On page 10, under the headline ‘Probe purchase of jets, submarines, Parliamentary Opposition Leader Dr Wan Azizah drew attention to the purchase of two Scorpene submarines worth RM4.5 billion though negotiated tender which resulted in a commission exceeding RM530 million being paid to Perimeker Sdn Bhd owned by Abdul Razak Baginda who was an advisor to the Defence Minister Najib Razak who is also deputy prime minister.
Then there was the purchase of the Sukhoi jets worth RM3.2 billioin. A commission of RM380 million was paid to IMT Defence Sdn Bhd, a company owned by former Malacca chief minister, Adib Adam.
Today, our deputy prime minister said that no investigation was necessary as ‘proper procedures were followed’. If we add the two so-called commissions together, it would amount to RM910 million.
In the same paper, on page 34, there was an article headlined ‘Vice-premier quits party over funds' scandal’. Taiwan's vice-premier resigned from the party, taking responsibility for an embarrassing diplomatic scandal involving the alleged embezzlement of US$30 million (RM94 million).
However, her move has failed to dampen outrage. The political fallout has claimed another victim - a guy named Chiou who is supposed to the right-hand man of outgoing Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian. At the time of writing, another member of the political party has resigned. The Taiwanese are simply outraged.
In contrast, in Malaysia, there was and is no ostensible outrage. This is because Malaysians are used to such scandals. They even accept it as a way of life. Dr Mahathir Mohamad has taught the nation to think big even on corruption.
The BMF scandal of more than RM2 billion was mind boggling - then. Now? The Malaysian mind is no longer ‘boggled’ by the loss of billions.
Malaysians must be really baffled by the reaction of the Taiwanese. What is the matter with these Taiwanese? After all, it's only what, RM94 million. Hey, that's small potatoes in this country. You have to come up with much higher figures if you want to boggle the Malaysian imagination.
That is what I mean by the culture of corruption. A former chief minister can be caught walking around in an Australian airport with a brief case containing a couple of million and still become a minister in the cabinet of Pak Lah (aka Mr. Clean).
This reminded me of the time back in 1999 when the former German chancellor, Helmut Kohl got himself into serious trouble over a political slush fund. In fact, the German Parliament voted unanimously to open a full-scale inquiry into the admission of improper practices in party funding by Kohl. They were talking about US$46.15 million.
I remember some Malaysians laughing and wondering what is wrong with the Germans. This is because such sums are so paltry as compared to our Malaysian standards.
Such is the culture of corruption.
