It has become a habit for our menteri besars - when in or out of office - to display great wealth. Not long ago, if memory serves me right, we had an MB caught in Australia with a couple of millions in loose change trying to exit from an Australian city.

Needless to say he was caught and charged in court and from there, the sordid details of his extravagant purchase of landed property was revealed. The revelation of his astounding wealth seems to pose some questions as to how the wealth was accumulated when his monthly salary was only about RM20,000.

Considering that he had only served one term as MB (and was still in office) the question that still remains unanswered till today is this: Where did he obtain his millions?'

Next, we had an MB who contested for an Umno vice-president's post and who has been found guilty of bribing delegates to secure his win. The money he spent for the election was probably only just loose change too because his two palatial homes in Port Dickson and Nilai must have cost quite a bit too.

The most scandalous of the lot must be the ex-MB of Sabah losing RM31.6 million to a casino in UK. What is most perplexing in this case is how did someone in his position accumulate such fabulous wealth?

Frankly, its not too difficult to trace where such wealth is derived from. The state executive committees, consisting of elected state assemblyman, often hold regular monthly meetings to decide on matters ranging from land application to approval of timber concessions.

If you require approval from the state government for any application, don't expect to get it as a matter of course. Without going through the 'proper channels' and without some agreed financial arrangement, it is most likely that your application will be rejected without any reasons given.

Despite all these public displays of wealth by our politicians, the most glaring dereliction of duty must be the Anti-Corruption Agency . They seem oblivious to all that is happening. Maybe they are waiting for the culprits to make a public confession before they will take any action.

By now, the citizens of this country must be immune to all this blatant acts of corruption. Each new leader comes to office with the promise of eradicating this scourge but each time we are left disappointed.

Sadly, we must admit we just don't have the leaders that can exert the political will and determination to wipe out this menace.