I have just finished John Grisham’s latest thriller ‘The Whistler’.

No, this is not a promotional piece for that book but these thoughts came to mind as I read the final paragraphs.

“Astonishing greed”, “sickening dishonesty”, “cowardly betrayal of the trust given by the voters” - can very well have been used in judging Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) and his coterie of alleged thieves of our national wealth. Sigh... it is a work of fiction and in our nation’s context it is unlikely MO1 will be at the receiving end of such a tongue-lashing by a presiding judge at his trial.

MO1's hold on power seems unshakeable even as the opposition try to find its bearings. Really pathetic showing by the opposition. So, I console myself that there must indeed be a moral order to the workings of man on this earth. MO1 and his coterie of alleged thieves will receive their due punishments when they meet their Makers or along the course of time infinite (who knows for sure?)

“...make sure all citizens are protected from the corrupt, the violent and the forces of evil.” - that ‘tweeter king’ and ‘apa nanti’ came to mind as I read these scathing remarks. I believe these two public officers entrusted with the enforcement of laws in our country will also be condemned to an eternity of suffering when they meet their Makers or along the course of time infinite for their roles in propping up MO1 in power.

Sigh... I do not intend for this piece to be philosophical but for us who have a conscience, who believe in right and wrong, in a moral code, when faced with the hopelessness of the situation in Malaysia viz-a-viz MO1, I believe one has to fall back to that as a consolation.

‘The Whistler’ has a good ending. The corrupt and evil got their due punishments even during their earthly lives while the whistle blower got her due rewards, unlike Rafizi Ramli. Poor Rafizi, for alerting the public to wrongdoings in the government of Bolehland, he is facing a jail sentence. Yes, this is despite the fact our country supposedly has a law to protect whistleblowers.

Sigh... this is Bolehland, after all. If I do not fall back on my beliefs of a moral order, I think I will be utterly without hope. But I believe Rafizi will also be duly rewarded for his fight against the corrupt regime in our country on behalf of we citizens, be it by his Maker or along the course of time infinite.