opinion Integrity is one of the rarest commodity, especially in politics. In fact, integrity is seen as a distinct liability for those aspiring politicians. Invariably, politicians with integrity do not last - they are either eliminated or unceremoniously thrown into prison.

In Malaysia, integrity would be the exception rather than the rule due to the overwhelming presence of money politics. Business wealth and political clout are so closely intertwined that only those businessmen with political connections can succeed. To be rich one must first have political power. This naturally encourages corruption and crony capitalism.

Despite being a multi-racial country, money politics is not a monopoly of any ethnic group but practised freely by all. One minister has publicly boasted that it would be stupid for political parties not to get involved in business.

The major ruling parties have their companies to take care of their funding needs and corporate cronies that do their bidding. All the major political parties have their own investment arms that monopolise the printing and electronic media, banking and financial services and all major sectors of the industries that count. Unless there exists an independent and courageous Elections Commission, ruling parties will always win unfairly and opposition parties find it difficult to survive.

Media, machinery and money

No wonder opposition parties always lose out in general elections to the 3 Ms of media, machinery and money:

media control exerted both as a monopolistic owner by the ruling parties as well as control of the state apparatus in the right to issue or cancel printing, publication and broadcasting licences;

misuse of government machinery in campaigning and where the election process, including an elections commission that is not independent, is manipulated by the government to its favour; and

money where spending limits imposed are exemplified more by its breachthan its compliance.

Money politics is so pervasive that directors of major public-listed companies must be seen to be active supporters of the ruling parties as the graph shows.