YOURSAY | ‘May the leaders be lampooned left, right and centre in all future days to come.’

Ten things the world should know about corruption a la Malaysia

Vijay47: Writer Hazlan Zakaria, I see that perhaps in view of constraints of time and space, you have listed only 10 of the things the world should know about ‘Malaysia truly Malaysia’, aware as you are that a full list would comprise 943 things - I know, because I spent the whole of the last few nights counting.

My own Top 5 list would include:

1. Contrary to widespread belief, the most senior administrator of the law is appointed to ensure the continued survival of the leader of a ruling party, especially when he be an unmitigated thief.

2. The most senior enforcer of the law should be one expert in the use of handphone functions. It would help greatly if he has a thug for a brother.

3. Allegations of illegal goings-on are false and creations of sundry Jews, Christians, Chinese, and occasionally, Tibetans.

4. Anyone who supports expressions not in a favour of the prime minister is guilty of treason.

5. Pro-Umno gangsters can run amok and the police would be unable to identify or arrest them.

Clearwater: An excellent and concise piece describing cultural eccentricities displayed by leaders in a certain political party.

May they be lampooned left, right and centre in all future days to come till they are removed from their lofty positions of blind allegiance to one man.

TimesAchanging: A couple more for the list:

1) If there is anything incriminating in an auditor-general’s audit report or any other reports, you can always bury them under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) forever.

2) You can provide an ever-changing series of explanations for any query and no evidence is needed.

3) You can introduce more laws to expand your powers.

4) And if all else fails, you can always justify your actions as defending your race and religion. It works all the time.

PHDC3: Hazlan, you have missed two more important points:

1) It will not consider corruption when the government buys or pays a higher price than market value. (Please refer to the Public Accounts Committee’s annual report on yearly audit.)

2) Members of the opposition or public who purchase any assets at below market price will be charged with corruption. (Please refer to a Penang MP’s case in 2016.)

Awang Top: 11) You are not considered corrupt if you belong to the allegedly divinely ordained Umno, no matter how solid the evidence is.

Telestai!: Corruption in Bolehland is evolving into a fine art. It is so well-disguised that it will fool any innocent visitor or expatriate in the country. Not only is corruption endemic in the government, it is also becoming rampant in the private sector.

The situation is so bad; it is almost like a cancer spinning out of control. Malaysia will be the perfect example for anyone wanting to do a study or a dissertation on corruption.

The sad thing about corruption in Malaysia is the way it drives politics in the country. Ruling party politicians resort to unimaginable dirty politics to protect their position.

In the process, the country suffers a high crime rate, strife and economic stagnation which will ultimately bring about destruction.

Only the citizens of the country can stop this and when they do come to their senses, it will be a long, long road towards recovery.

Drngsc: Hazlan, you are too shallow in your analysis. You are looking at the trees and not the woods. In a liberal democracy, the state has virtually the power to do anything, even all manners of evil.

This power of the state, in a liberal democracy, must be balanced by the rule of law and state accountability and transparency (largely through a free press which acts as a check to reveal the abuses of powers).

In Malaysia, these two important pillars of liberal democracy were allegedly slowly and surely removed by the actions of Dr Mahathir Mohamad since 1982, culminating in their allegedly severe emasculation by Najib Abdul Razak.

He used what Mahathir had started and perfected by gagging the press, allegedly controlling the attorney-general (AG) and inspector-general of police (IGP), and by extension, the judiciary.

So now we have a state whose power no longer has any restraints. We are now allegedly basically a dictatorship, or as the US DOJ stated, a kleptocratic state.

The people's only duty is to pay tax and shut up until the next sham election. We all have been asleep too long. Wake up, Malaysia.

Mosquitobrain: Hazlan, a good piece. Forward them to the kampung folk.

But if I buy cheap, I can be hauled up by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). They claim ‘mesti ada’ conflict of interest!

If I buy expensive, I can be hauled up by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). ‘Wang lebih kerana tak bayar cukai!’

Peacemaker: Hazlan has opened himself to charges of undermining the best democracy in the world, an offence under the Penal Code that carries a penalty of life imprisonment, dismemberment and excommunication.

We are sure that some cleric will declare him as an apostate from the favoured faith. May God help you, sir.

Hplooi: Ahhh, Malaysiakini is currently having an attack of the sarcastic kind. Remember Oscar Wilde said, “Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but the highest form of intelligence.”

So beware, Hazlan, should you attempt sarcasm you will be labelled either as a low-down wit or a most intelligent wit by Malaysiakini commentators. And currently (I believe) the opinion is 50-50.

Kenzo: Hmmmm, Umno cybertroopers are going to be sharing this everywhere, saying even Malaysiakini says it is not graft, conveniently leaving out the first word in blue in the article - SATIRE.

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