Almost every other day Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his deputy Abdullah Ahmad Badawi crow about combating corruption in this country.

Citizens made to realise that when it comes to corruption, it is Malaysia Boleh! And mind you, civil servants are a little ahead of the curve.

Frankly, people are tired of hearing the battle cry (and are quite relieved that the PM will no longer cry at Umno general assemblies) against corruption.

After 22 long years of Mahathir's premiership and without any concrete results but a worsening crisis at hand, the battle against crooks is clearly nothing but a cliche.

The fact that the problem has increased in frequency and severity since the PM's 'Clean, Efficient and Trustworthy' sloganeering in the 1980s, reduces the rage against rogues to mere claptrap.

The slogan that followed - 'Leadership by Example' - is equally ironic for there has been no shortage of leaders who prove their competence in corrupt practices.

Cheap charade

The government's fight against corruption has become quite predictable and there is everything to suggest that it is only a cheap charade.

At closer look, the culture of corruption is in fact an excellent way for the state to enhance subservience. The powerful elite can gain much from the ways of the greedy.

Political cohorts and weak characters are allowed or even encouraged to be corrupt. Safe and secure are the scoundrels whose submission serves the interests of the powers-that-be.

If the corrupt were to suffer from sudden pangs of conscience, it would suffice for the PM to show them a file which would convince them of the wisdom to remain pliant.

Those who compromise their principles have to be at the beck and call of the 'puppeteer'. Controlled and manipulated, they remain life members of the hall of shame.

From time to time, the government, in order to convince the whole world of its supposed anti-corruption commitment, casts its net to catch a few ikan bilis (figuratively, small fish).

Charges of corruption have also been used to get rid of political opponents. Prosecution (also read as persecution) awaits those who cross swords with the people at the top.

Those who fall out with Umno, and especially its president, will have to resign and disappear into oblivion - or be found corrupt or even made corrupt.

Surely the Kitingan brothers of Sabah and the prisoner in Sungai Buloh can confirm this for a fact.

Big sharks

Then there are the big sharks who, though 'certified' corrupt by the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) and Attorney-General's Chambers, are made immaculately clean by the PM's Department.

When the cover-up of corruption by a menteri besar or minister is impossible, he/she is given a post overseas where he/she can live in comfort instead of in a local prison cell.

There are also those, who, even though under investigation either by the police or the ACA for corruption, are held up high as heroes of the nation and given titles.

Another factor which brings to light the government's hypocrisy is the varying degree of speed by which anti-corruption institutions function.

The 'committed haste' of the police, ACA and AG's Chambers in certain corruption cases and their foot-dragging in other cases, no longer surprise the public.

In the fight against corruption, political will depends very much on political expediency. Is it surprising therefore that corruption has crept into the very core of life in Malaysia?

"Let the whole country be corrupt, let the whole country not be transparent. What has that got to do with this case?" Justice Augustine Paul's remark in the Anwar Ibrahim 'corruption' trial bears much relevance.

Pak Lah's turn

From the cabinet to the city councils, the courts to the crony companies, the cankerous effect of corruption is felt. It attacks every system, structure and the very soul of this country.

Calloused hands have become cheating hands. There are no longer any checks and balances in this country, only cheques and balances. How ironic - the whole of Malaysia is on sale.

How is the public to believe that the government is serious in its anti-corruption stance, when it castigates those who expose corruption and even sends them to jail?

What credibility is there left of this government that misuses the Official Secrets Act to conceal damning evidence of corruption, which have become an open secret?

How can it be convincing when its officials choose to remain mum and defensive when asked for information by groups like Transparency International's Malaysian chapter?

The AG's Chambers, Auditor-General's Office and ACA have no autonomy, they remain beholden to the PM who pulls the strings and controls their purse strings.

The fervour of the police in ferreting out whistle blowers instead of focusing on the crime that has been exposed, lends credence to the perception that the government's fight against corruption is just a farce.

To start off his premiership, Abdullah has chosen the same rallying cry as Mahathir. If 'Mr Clean' is really serious about containing and crippling the virus, he has to stop the charade.

MARTIN JALLEH is a writer and researcher in a non-government organisation. Not affiliated to any political party, he believes that every Malaysian should care enough for his/her country by speaking up and standing up for the truth.