COMMENT | What is one important thing we can learn from S'pore?

COMMENT | There are many things Malaysians can learn from Singapore and one of them is about leadership, in particular how to handle corrupt politicians, both before and after they have been sentenced for their crimes.

Malaysians don’t keep things “simple and swift” like they do in Singapore. We like “theatrics and time-wasting”. It’s our Malaysian trademark.

In Singapore, a former cabinet minister, S Iswaran was swiftly brought to trial, in September 2024, after he was first charged in January 2024, with accepting a bribe worth the equivalent of several hundred thousand ringgit.

In October, Iswaran was found guilty and jailed.

In Malaysia, we take half a lifetime in between the sickies and various delays, before hauling a corrupt politician, like Najib Abdul Razak, kicking and screaming to the dock.

Then, when the corrupt politician has been sentenced and has barely warmed his prison mattress, we bicker about the role of the Pardons Board, after finding to our horror, that both the fine and sentence of the convicted felon have been reduced.

As no one can point fingers at members of the board, with their identities unknown, someone will then drag the palace into the shenanigans.

This clever ploy means that we are forced to guard our words, just in case we are lumbered with an unnecessary charge of sedition.

Then, if that was not enough, we go through another lengthy and eye-wateringly wasteful time discussing the merits of house arrest in Parliament, when we should really be focusing on the needs of the nation.

Sense of purpose

Singaporeans have a sense of purpose when they do things. Once a task is over, they will then move on and concentrate on the next job at hand. Things get done quickly, and productivity and efficiency are both high.

Malaysians on the other hand do the opposite and just to complicate matters, will drag the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty) into play.

There was no leniency shown in Iswaran’s treatment and no special allowances were given.

The prosecution had asked for a six to seven months sentence, whilst Iswaran’s lawyers sought a mere eight weeks in jail and later argued that the judge had been too severe in sentencing their client to a year in jail.

The judge, Justice Vincent Hoong decided otherwise. He was keen to preserve Singapore’s international image of an upright, squeaky-clean, lack-of-corruption island nation.

More importantly, as his sentencing remarks had shown, he said, “…holders of high office ‘set the tone for public servants in conducting themselves in accordance with high standards of integrity’”.

Different breed

Our politicians are also of a different breed than the Singaporeans. When he was charged with corruption, Iswaran had written to the then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, claiming his innocence and rejecting the charges.

However, Iswaran had also tendered his resignation and returned his salaries and allowances.

The last time a Singaporean minister was charged with corruption was in 1986. The national development minister, Teh Cheang Wan was investigated for accepting bribes, but such was his shame, that he took his own life before being charged.

Across the causeway, Malaysia treats its corrupt politicians with kid gloves and political prisoners are spoilt by having their fines and jail time reduced.

Our ministers who are charged with corruption will persuade their peers to lie on their behalf, just as Najib did with his then cabinet and 1MDB.

Our corrupt politicians also appear to disregard the evidence used against them and protest that they are innocent even after they have been sentenced.

The Malaysian judiciary had already discharged its duties in sentencing Najib but it’s the political meddlers, including and especially those in Putrajaya, who have insulted the judiciary and made Malaysians angry with their interference.

The Pardons Board including individual politicians and lawyers have sought to confuse the public and undermine the trust and confidence of the public in the government.

Najib has been sentenced. Why won’t politicians focus on governing the country instead of regurgitating Najib’s case?

Why say anything?

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s poor leadership qualities will not endear him to the rakyat. Why humour Najib and his apology? Najib thrives on attention. Moreover, he knows how to twist insecure leaders around his pudgy fingers.

The PM should not have said anything about Najib’s apology. If he was able to keep silent during the months-long spat between the Umno-Baru Youth leader Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh and KK Mart, then why was he unable to do so with Najib?

Anwar said nothing about the failed assassination attempt on Siti Kasim’s life. He was also silent on many racial and religious issues attacking non-Malay and non-Muslim people.

Malaysians will receive a tongue-lashing whenever Anwar’s huge ego is dented. Thus, the rakyat received a telling-off when Malaysians criticised his acceptance of Najib’s apology and mocked him for being the saviour of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Singaporeans are serious about preserving their good reputation, but in Malaysia, particularly in Putrajaya, politicians only care about their self-interests and their parties.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army, and the president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO). Blog, X.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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