YOURSAY | 'It has to take one man with integrity to resign to highlight the MACC issue.'

Cabinet should instruct MACC advisory board to probe Azam - MP

Malaysia Bharu: An anti-corruption body with its own head honcho allegedly caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and the anti-corruption crusaders sitting in the various oversight bodies are apparently looking the other way.

Why are taxpayers’ funds wasted on these seat warmers? This can only happen in the world's worst-case kleptocracy.

Why is it that whenever allegations of wrongdoings arise against establishment personnel and ruling elites, the authorities go into silent mode?

These privileged elements seem to be spared even the national disaster pandemic SOP compliance, and many times it has taken a lot of public pressure to hold them accountable, and invariably they have got off with a slap on the wrist.

Our law enforcers are double-quick to take action when it involves the rakyat and the opposition. Why go far when the stark testimony is that of the MACC chief commissioner himself?

Public pressure is mounting for action to be taken. If the number one man of the anti-corruption agency can't be trusted, who else can be trusted and who do the people turn to?

And ironically, among the number of oversight bodies and its personnel that supervises the MACC, it has to take one man with integrity to resign to blow open this can of worms.

If Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob continues to drag his feet on this elephant in the room, it is an endorsement of the general perception that the backdoor regime is no better than its tarnished anti-corruption entity.

OCT: It will be a miracle when the cabinet ministers would accede to the opposition’s suggestion that MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki be investigated.

The police will say they will not investigate as no police report was lodged. Just look at the alleged theft of millions of ringgit by MACC officers that has apparently become a cold case.

This involved only an ordinary MACC officer and no result till now. If such inaction exists, there is practically no chance for Azam to be investigated.

Corruption has become a culture in Malaysia. The government is proud to be known as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, with a kleptocrat as a trophy. It is not ashamed about its image, pride, integrity and infamy.

Nobody can rectify a corrupt government when it has resigned to the situation. Indeed, there are no "few good men" left in Malaysia anymore.

BusinessFirst: Corruption has no race. The problem with corruption is a failure of good leadership and governance.

Look at Singapore, why is corruption so low there? Is it because the majority of Chinese are righteous inherently? No. It is because of Lee Kuan Yew, that is why.

He knew corruption would kill a country and enacted tough and uncompromising laws. Lee and his team led by example.

Because as the English saying goes, "Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." The fact that it is an English saying shows that it is an issue that cuts across time, geography and culture.

Ancient China and Nationalist China before their defeat by the Chinese Communist Party were riddled with corruption. Corruption is endemic in Venezuela and many parts of Africa as well.

The problem is the imbalance of power and very poor leadership. Many hold former premiers Abdul Razak Hussein and Dr Mahathir Mohamad in high regard, yet these two are singularly responsible for the failures and problems in Malaysia today.

Malaysia's failure and problems today are because of their "vision" of Malaysia - i.e. the easy way out version, by discriminating against minorities and wealth transfers, that won over the visions of Tunku Abdul Rahman and Ismail Abdul Rahman of a Malaysian Malaysia.

How different Malaysia would be had this not happened.

MS: In response to several hurtful generalisations erroneously painting all Malays as corrupt, I thought the following should be said - much of which is a repeat of my response to a thoughtful post by BusinessFirst.

For starters, in any discussion of corruption in Malaysia, the compounding factor is the problem of systemic Malay leadership failure and the stubborn refusal of state-sanctioned religious leaders who have yet to condemn corruption as vociferously and as persistently as they did Timah whiskey.

So while not all Malays are corrupt and corruption is race-neutral, in Malaysia, the refusal of the majority of Malays and Muslims to rise up against the corrupt as they would over a caricature by a Danish cartoonist makes it appear that they have a high tolerance for it.

And then, we have the imported Indian preacher who reportedly declared before the last general election - without any Muslim challenging him - that in Islam, it is better to vote for a corrupt Muslim than a clean non-Muslim.

Making matters worse is the fact that in the present case, at least, the ones demanding a probe so far are non-Malays - not Malays of any significance. Not Mahathir, not Ismail Sabri, not Anwar Ibrahim, not Muhyiddin Yassin and definitely not Abdul Hadi Awang.

Put all that together, the unfortunate die is cast, and the impression becomes indelible - Malays and corruption go together.

It is only when there is a general and sustained Malay uprising against this scourge undermining the country that impressions will change.

However, the already crippled and uncoordinated country, as evidenced by its chaotic reaction to the floods, may not last long enough for that to happen.

OrangeCondor2731: The beloved people of this country, please wake up.

By now, the Malays must see that the unelected government cannot perform. They must also see that Umno leaders are only interested in corruption.

This is a beautiful country with God-given resources. Let us vote out this government. Vote for young leaders. There are many capable ones.

Together, we make Malaysia a great nation, regardless of race and religion. We can, and we must.

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