The theme was ‘Malaysia’s War on Corruption - It’s now or never’. About 80 delegates participated in this two-day event which highlighted the obvious namely the endemic nature of corruption across the country. Despite so-called definitive action taken over the last years to curb the rise of corruption, the scourge and scale continues to infect the vitals of the nation.

While there was no direct mention about 1MDB and its adviser, there were enough innuendos which only highlighted the gap between the talk and the walk. What was clear was the element of fear with regards what is said in public and what is shared on a one-to-one basis.

Regulatory bodies like the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are cautious on the one hand as investigations are proceeding, while they are also fearful of the challenges they face.

When will Malaysians learn? Who will speak up for the nation? We are grateful for the voice of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and can only assume that there is some realisation on his part. Better late than never, he speaks out about those who exhibit an excessive lifestyle, the nature and scale of corruption, the costs to the nation and how small fish are caught and the big fishes get away.

The press is also facing a backlash on what is actually an issue that could have been resolved if the individual involved had spoken the truth in the first place. That he chose not to speak resulted in subsequent revelations from the international media and the Sarawak Report which were taken as sources providing much credibility. The government from then on has been on the defensive, defending the indefensible.

Every step they have taken from abruptly terminating the old attorney-general (AG), appointing a new AG, delaying the work of the task force, subsequent transfers and re-transfers and the way they dealt with the deputy Special Branch director all stinks of undue pressure and bad faith. Then the decision to remove the deputy prime minister and an Umno vice-president tilted the balance of power.

However, having tied himself in knots with one statement after the other being expressed by his cronies, we now have a situation where people are being hauled up. For the leadership it is about what goes around eventually coming around. While many are amazed by the scale of the possible cover-up, they only shake their heads in disbelief for to do otherwise seems neither religiously nor culturally right.

This only reveals the amount of power that is today vested in the executive that manages the nation and more significantly in the leader himself. When a foreigner was asked the question as to whether this could happen in Western Europe, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, he responded by saying that the press and the way Parliament is constituted it was just not possible at all.

In addition there exists a culture that makes it so shameful to indulge in such acts.

It is amazing that these nations which are often highlighted for their poor morals and religious values exhibit a culture and have a sense of shame about such behaviour. This definitely challenges many believers who for all their talk and exhibition indulge in personal moral compromise in this very religiously inclined nation. Again it is a lot of fashion and show but with little inner substance.

Corruption a non-halal way to behave

An Islamic religious teacher, meanwhile, shared that we do teach our children about what is halal and not halal but how is it that we do not teach them that corruption itself is seriously a non-halal way to act and behave.

In Malaysia religious authorities seem more interested in ‘khalwat’, ‘hudud’, trolleys and moral policing. Why is it that so many working in enforcing authorities, regulatory bodies, approving departments, customs and immigration often fall prey to corruption?

This emphasises that the problem is not with religion but with believers, ordinary people struggling with temptations and challenges. Many who see wrong being committed and know about what is happening as unacceptable remain silent and through their silence condone what is wrong. One parent told me that all his children are anti-government. “I am unable to defend for they feel things strongly and ask questions and they challenge me.”

Another young man working with the government said that he is unable to say anything while at office for fear that he would be demoted or transferred. However he and his friends gather at the ‘mamak shop’ where they speak out and express themselves without fear. “We have lost faith in the older generation. They remain mere obedient servants, spineless and ready to follow any orders even if this goes against their conscience.”

I suppose the notion that everyone has a price has been perfected by Umno and in this regard the leader delivers, so the followers tolerate to receive their collections. For the leader has already promised that next year’s constituency allocations for BN MP’s will be greatly increased. This will attract many to remain silent because the amount will be more than the RM1 million disbursed this year.

‘Cowgate’ was misusing political connections within Umno. ‘Maragate’ was the same with the apartment units in Australia, and case after case we see these links which made an exasperated ‘Umno Wanita’ leader to candidly challenge Umno politicians to stand up, namely those who have not benefitted from being with Umno.

Not a startling confession but a candid expression of the obvious. New entanglements will be revealed because the culture is now deeply rooted.

Dissent is part of democracy and if those in power are unable to read the signs they will eventually end up like the frog that was slowly steamed in warm water ultimately losing the ability to jump out and save itself as the water got hot. It is only a matter of time and if Umno members do not see and read the signs than they are blind to the realities of corruption.

What is the message that the government communicates when compromised leaders are given executive responsibilities to head government-linked companies (GLCs) like Felda, Felcra and PUNB, to name a few. At a ‘luncheon’ talk organised by the Business Ethics Institute of Malaysia, Minister in the PM’s Department Paul Low was asked questions about GLCs.

His simple response was that he had no oversight responsibilities regarding these companies. So he sits happy with a ‘halo’ around his head as Malaysia’s minister for integrity, transparency and human rights. We had hoped that he would bring to his office a standard of moral and ethical principles that would lift the cabinet and improve governance in the nation.

Scandal after scandal involving GLCs

Over the years we have had scandals after scandals covering several GLCs. The list is enormous and I state some to highlight the fact that we do not seem to be learning anything. Let us recall issues relating to Bank Bumiputra, Maminco, Makuwasa, Perwaja, Bank Islam, MAS, Putra Transport System, Sime Darby, PKFZ, IPP’s, Cowgate, Maragate and the Plus toll scandals.

Can we recall if anyone was ever arrested? Yes in the case of BBMB, a Malaysian internal auditor was murdered and the case in Hong Kong led to some convictions. On the others we can only speculate because of the nexus between money and politics that is so apparent in Malaysia.

In Time Magazine 's Asia edition issue of March 15, 2004, South-East Asian economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore Danial Lian estimates that the country may have lost as much as US$100 billion since the early 1980s to corruption.

With an increasingly autocratic executive, a pliant judiciary and a legislature under the thumbs of the executive, we have lost all checks and balances. The depth and cost of corruption in the nation today is a testimony to this reality. This is what Barisan Nasional under the leadership of Umno has pioneered and continues to do so. Corruption today has become systemic.

My memory fails me but I cannot even cite five senior political leaders who have been sent to jail for graft in the country. There would be many small fishes and this is why a mere statement to MACC from the PM is inadequate. He needs to be questioned for in the final analysis he is the chairperson of the advisory panel for 1MDB, the key witness to certify that money went into his account and perhaps outline the purpose and details of the transaction.

It is sad when a prime minister is held in such low esteem by many and yet wants to cling on to power. He will never know it because those around him will ensure that he hears only what he needs to hear! This comes at great cost to the nation’s integrity and diplomats from across the globe could attest to this reality, noting several negative articles that have appeared in the global news media.

We talk of the ‘Rule of Law’ under the ‘Rukunegara’ and all our children study this and it appears in their exercise books. Yet this raises the question whether it is applies equally to all citizens.

If we are going to save this nation then ordinary citizens, the media and the anti-corruption authorities will have to stand up and be counted without any sense of fear. Interrogate him with Allah as your guardian and let him defend himself as a ‘Bugis’ warrior and not run away with a mere statement.

To do otherwise is to sell one’s soul and to mortgage the future of our children and grandchildren. The cause is noble and non-violent, the aim is clear and specific and we need to inspire young and old and send the simple message that those who treat their positions with impunity at all levels will henceforth be called to answer. I pray that Malaysia has enough believers and practitioners to make the difference.