COMMENT | From 'Bossku' to prison: How power without ethics corrupts

COMMENT | Convicted felon Najib Abdul Razak’s purported apology raises some interesting points.

It prompts us to ask: what are the core values of Umno or, for that matter, BN?

If Umno members were clear about this, they would have a different perspective on Najib’s so-called apology. That they still lack this clarity is precisely the reason they continue to support a corrupt “Bossku” (my boss).

Yet, religion and prayers are not necessarily an antidote to greed, lust, and hatred.

If religion does not inspire an internal sense of realisation and change, then it remains mere belief. And it takes more than mere belief to transform one’s life.

Moral and ethical standards are critical. Indeed, we have today too many believers who have lost their inner moral compass.

Without clarity in this regard, the various political parties will have varying perspectives.

If politicians are not clear about their personal core values and the values that their political parties stand for, then the prevailing mindset would be: “It’s OK, everyone does it.”

This legitimises a culture of dishonesty and a lack of integrity and clarity. Just consider the BN elite in this context.

The MACC has a difficult job. Just as a fish rots from the head, this culture, which prevailed during BN’s years in power, has infected the civil service, customs, immigration, police, and even the MACC to some extent.

The combination of self-interest and power leads to corruption – a serious challenge for any government. This is not uncommon, as we see in former South African president Jacob Zuma, who also fell foul of the law. Several South Korean leaders also had to resign.

Clearly, this is not an issue of race but of human weakness, arising out of a lack of an inner moral compass.

Looking down south

We have all read about the recent events in Singapore surrounding the republic’s former transport minister, S Iswaran.

The judge ruled that there was a higher level of culpability when a public servant holds high office and wields greater influence over business transactions.

This was the case regarding a man who held cabinet positions in the Singapore government for 13 years.

Najib, for his part, has held public office positions over several decades. Surely, he should have known better!

Having a personal moral compass is crucial. Religion must inspire this, and ethical leadership then follows. Even if you are unclear about your personal moral compass, the core values of the organisation you belong to can guide you. Failing this, you become vulnerable to motivations of greed and power.

Clear ethical standards hold each of us to a level of conduct that is acceptable in the interest of the larger good.

So if you choose to become a politician and enter the public sphere, then you need to embrace public accountability.

And is it then inappropriate for the people to expect exemplary conduct and accountability from you? Their duty is to hold you to this higher standard. The higher you go, the greater the fall.

No amount of blaming others can justify Najib’s actions. Court cases have exposed to the public the many instances of dishonesty, scheming, and cover-ups.

Now we have eminent people supporting his apology.

But an apology is good only when it comes immediately after you have committed a wrong. If you don’t realise this and have already been declared guilty, don’t think you can get away with making a superficial apology, blaming others, and playing the victim card.

What are those who are supporting Najib’s apology saying? Are they also confirming that we do not need core values and ethical standards?

Holding leaders to their own standards

A government that emphasises transparency, accountability, and good governance has to state its clear stand.

If Malaysia Madani talks about the creation of a civilised, skilled, and inclusive society stressing sustainability, innovation, and prosperity based on fundamental values of respect, trust, and compassion, then what does all this mean?

These are not mere words to be uttered. Rather, we, the people, will hold leaders to these standards. They have to act on these words and integrate these values into their policymaking.

Does Najib’s apology build trust? He has lost credibility and no amount of blame and victimhood is going to cleanse him, other than his time in prison. Where does respect come from when he has already been found guilty by so many judges and has lost the respect of the people?

Compassion represents our regard for the other. Yet, the scale of his guilt and the numerous scandals that plagued his leadership do not inspire any compassion.

Unless Umno and BN can tell us their core values and what guides them in serving the people, many are unlikely to vote for them. We need to hear a difference in tone and cause beyond race. But neither MCA nor MIC can help them to become different because they face similar challenges.

Respect for the nation and its global image have been severely damaged. Those travelling abroad in recent years have often faced the question, “What’s happening in your country?”

Indeed, political expediency at the expense of the rule of law will have far-reaching, long-term consequences for the nation.

If all this and BN’s debacle in the 2022 general election are not enough of a wake-up call, then the coalition can look forward to a quiet demise - unless it comes out with an inclusive agenda, clear core values, and a direction that takes Malaysia forward and onwards.

But the critical question remains: does BN have the ethical leadership required to make such a difference?

This article first appeared in Aliran.

K HARIDAS is an Aliran executive committee member, honorary secretary of the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia, chairperson of the Association For The Promotion Of Higher Education In Malaysia, and chairperson of the Malaysian chapter of Initiatives of Change International.

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

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