ADUN SPEAKS I was horrified to read about the cases of corruption involving students at institutions of higher learning in this country. However, it should probably not be shocking news, for this is merely a reflection of what is happening in all levels of the government of this country. The students were just doing what people in authority are believed to be doing.

Corruption can only happen where there are two willing participants, as it takes two hands to clap. Can the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) reveal whether any lecturers have been reported and investigated for accepting bribes to pass students? Action must be taken against both the giver and receiver of bribes.

Lecturers who accept bribes are especially treacherous as they are responsible for unleashing upon the public incompetent ‘professionals’ who could potentially cause accidents, destruction and the loss of lives.

There has been a steady decline in our education system, and our moral and ethical standards have declined at the same time. We hear of students and parents buying examination papers. University staff and researchers have been exposed for plagiarism and falsifying data. Our universities were once highly regarded and respected in the region but our glory days are well and truly over.

It is sad to note that the rot that is prevalent in the government has pervaded into our institutions of higher learning. Our leaders are supposed to be exemplary but they do not walk the talk. Instead we have scandal after scandal, where the perpetrators refuse to acknowledge their wrongs and their lackeys make up excuses for their masters. Those who do wrong get away with it if they are affiliated with the ‘right’ side.

It is commendable that the MACC has the initiative to conduct awareness programmes but ultimately, if our leaders are shown to be corrupt and unprincipled, all the programmes in the world will not have any impact. Students learn best by example, and the examples shown to them by their top government officials can only cultivate a cynical and skeptical attitude in them.

We are failing our future generations if we allow the rot to carry on in our government. It is a mindset that we are up against now. The need to clean up our government has taken on a new urgency.

BARU BIAN is the state assemblyperson for Ba’ Kelalan and Sarawak PKR chairperson.