I agree that patriotism is not about flag-raising. It is the thing of the heart. Especially when one stays abroad, one misses home, and feels comfortable when one meets a fellow Malaysian.

Overseas, I am terrified at the inconvenience and expense of committing a traffic offence. I cannot settle the problem with RM50. At home, I could 'redistribute' a bit of wealth to the poor traffic cop whose pay is not sufficient to keep up with cost of living.

Then there are these constant swoops against vendors of illegal VCDs, and how they thrive because of advanced tip-offs from officers they bribed. To me, that's wonderful. Where else can I get such cheap educational software at RM6 apiece for my kids?

MGG Pillai says official corruption is as Malaysian as nasi lemak . To me, both are quite palatable, which makes Malaysia home. He says corruption exists in every nook and corner and at every level of officialdom.

Actually it has also permeated large swathes of private sector, this ethos that money can buy anything. It boils down to the sharing of spoils - live and let live. What's wrong with that?

In the abstract, corruption is a great evil. It is supposed to result in great waste and misallocation of resources. For examples, public spending is lavished on sub-standard goods and service. Civil servants don't push a pen unless they are paid.

Contracts are not given to the best but the party that can give kickbacks. Resources are not spent on priority areas of public health, education, transportation or even prison reform and other humanitarian concerns but mega projects that return a bigger percentage.

But it is the backbone of the ubiquitous percentage that huge infrastructure and development projects are launched, which, if successful, benefit present and future generations, generating multiplier economic benefits - notwithstanding the many that also fail, at huge public expense.

Though a social evil, we cannot change the ethos of patronage that constitutes corruption's root cause. The implementation of our massive affirmative action programme reeks with patronage. Everyone benefits from the win-win Ali-Baba system - both Ali and Baba.

Everyone has a place in the sun because everyone not born of higher class has an opportunity of upward mobility as long as he/she can forge the right connections.

As a poor man with a modicum of integrity, I can always work myself to become a proxy and share a percentage of the spoils for some politicians or their cronies who cannot be seen by the Anti-Corruption Agency to make money and therefore must 'declare' their assets.

Even if one is sued by some rich man with good enough connections to stack all the cards against you, there is still level playing field when the weaker one, who cannot afford a lawyer, can, for a paltry sum of RM200, bribe some lowly court clerk to lose the file so that the case will never come up for hearing. That's equalisation of contestation between the unequal, and that's also justice.

In the private sector, when I am in dire financial straits facing the prospect of bankruptcy, it is wonderful that I can bribe a bank officer to refinance my debt, or for that matter sell a not-so- valuable property at an inflated price to officers of the purchaser's company. Or, if valuation is not sufficient, bribe the valuer as well.

It is really a wonderful place to ' cari nasi lemak to makan ', though the more idealistic of my countrymen are inclined to disagree. I love the hypocrisy because everyone can be two-faced - say one thing and do another, which allows one to live two lives to achieve dual objectives.

There is however one thing that we ought not be hypocritical about: that we loathe and condemn corruption when so many of us benefit, if not obtain redemption from it and have no qualms about being a beneficiary of it.

The only qualm is when the spoils are not evenly distributed and we sometimes find ourselves in the disadvantageous position of receiving its downside without the break of the upside.

One has to look at it philosophically: that which cannot be changed for the time being has to be endured, and if possible enjoyed. If corruption, like prostitution cannot be eradicated, it has to be managed and worked around for personal salvation. We have to work ourselves into the particular niche where we benefit instead of suffer from an allegedly pervasive corrupt system.

Then comes the next important question: What is so patriotic about participating and benefiting from the waste and squander of the nation's resources, to the detriment of future generations and our children? Isn't this selfish denigration of collective good and travesty of good principles?

The answer is simple. It is the task of people who can change things and the system - leaders at all levels and sectors - to should set the tone and lead the way. It is not for us ordinary folks. No matter how much the discourse and railing against corruption, the reaction is more lip service and hypocrisy, and there will be no change.

Changing political positions to vote for squeaky clean PAS is worrying because I love my vices and do not like being chastised or moralised upon for being human. Otherwise, living is not worth it.

Leaders too cannot be any less corrupt than their constituents whose votes are canvassed are moved more by money politics than anything else. We are then 'corrupt' because of our social and political culture, requiring many, many generations to change that entrenched mindset.

But future generations will take care of themselves. When and if the nation is bankrupt and no more waste can be afforded, then necessity will become the mother of invention.

Future generations will find it in themselves to work hard, and not go for easy money based on political connections, and to value merits and capabilities above that of patronage. If not, they can emigrate.

For now, let's party, and reflect on why it is such a privilege to be Malaysian and feel patriotic in the heart. We should reflect on why we love our homeland, not only in respect of the wonderful things it offers but also the benefits that even its worst aspect - corruption - can bestow. Remember, even with the darkest cloud, there is a silver lining. Malaysia Boleh!