LETTER | The news report of a polluted river in Jelapang, Perak, complete with video evidence showcases how corrupt the Malaysian business landscape truly is.

There is a total disregard for the precious environment and blatant flouting of a myriad of laws. Worse, there is absolutely zero enforcement. If it is not a classic case of "tutup semua mata" (everyone closing their eyes) all the way from Putrajaya to the factory in question then pray tell, what is this?

Even the ravages of Covid-19 have not driven fear and utmost care into the hearts of businesses and policy enforcers.

Would you believe it?

It seems, as claimed by a local Malay resident, for twenty years a factory has been polluting this river and no one from the authorities saw it, smelt it, felt it or even heard of it.

When a responsible media finally publishes the concerned citizen's complaint, ministers run helter-skelter promising to return with answers.

The script has never changed these past three decades, folks.

To put it bluntly, the "rakyat sudah bosan lah" (the people are bored) with all such exposes. This is not the first time. It ain't gonna be the last time. Do you want to bet on this?

What does it say?

It mirrors how corrupt our business and policy vanguards' operatives have eroded.

There is a total disregard for protecting our precious environment. Why? Chasing after good money by any means governs our leaders' promised "progress for all".

Even amid the Covid-19 pandemic where lives are lost, health is compromised, and the economy brought to its knees, our country never learns.

Should not the vanguard captains and business owners be taken to court immediately and the factory premise confiscated for good?

"Tak bolih abang. Rugi banyak" (Can't do that. It is not profitable).

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.