As far as I can help it, I do not want to deal with Malaysian businesses in Malaysia. I know I will be accused generalising and tarring the entire corporate world with one stroke of brush but let me describe a few incidents that occurred in one month alone which have made me quite sick to the stomach.

We represent a German machine manufacturer and had set up an appointment with a government agency to possibly supply research machinery. After the meeting, I subsequently followed-up with a senior staff member.

On discussing the price, I was bluntly asked to include a 'consultation fee' for this particular senior staff member. I told him that would not be possible. Needless to say, we did not get the project.

A couple of weeks later, our company had decided to buy a three-story shoplot for our office from a reputable, development company in the Klang Valley. Upon discussing with the sales coordinator, I was told that the price was RM950,000.

After the meeting, I received a call from the same sales coordinator who said that his boss could approve the sale at RM900,000. I, however, had to pay three people in their company a portion of that discount which amounted to about 1.11 percent.

While returning home that evening, I was guilty of talking on the mobile phone while driving. A traffic policeman on the motorbike stopped me. After checking my driving licence and car registration etc., he came over and asked the infamous question, 'So, bagaimana?'

That day, I really neither had the time nor the patience to ask him what he meant and simply asked him to write out the summons.

Employees - in both the private and public sectors - lose all respect and dignity when they ask, persuade or demand for a 'cut' in order to facilitate business deals. If they want to make extra money, then they should start their own business.

The truth is that the disease of graft and corruption in our country has reached a critical level with just about everyone looking for quick money. It is weakening the country and making it less competitive.

Then we have brilliant leaders who will say, 'Corruption is worse in the Philippines or Indonesia'. That may be true but do we want our country to sink to that level.