Guarding the guardians: Is corruption undermining national security?

A recent letter to Free Malaysia Today titled “More than a scandal, corruption of security services is a security risk” deserves serious attention.

Ordinary people and the politicians, especially those who are often forthright about the need to “defend bangsa, agama dan negara” must openly declare their objections to all forms of corruption within the system, including the police and the defence forces.

Sadly, such condemnations of corruption do not seem to gain as much traction as news of rape cases and raids on massage centres.

If we are truly patriotic, then civil pressure on the government should be intense enough to weed out and cleanse it of corruption.

But when that is not the case, therein lies the threat to the country’s own sovereignty – from within. Those in positions of authority have to take responsibility for this failure.

When individuals, whether they hold positions of authority or subordinates sitting at the lower ranks of the system, are found to be corrupt, it represents a fundamental breach of national duty.

Are the country’s politicians deliberately ‘looking away’? Have they chosen not to step on anyone’s toes, lest their own political ambitions get derailed?

As a nation, we must oppose all forms of corruption and the failures of the system. We need to ensure strict accountability for those who contribute to the erosion of the nation’s strength, security and sovereignty.

There has been no reassurance from political leaders from both sides of the divide that they will purge the nation of this dangerous trend. They seem to be too busy blaming each other for governance failures.

Hence the critical question is: is Malaysia now irreparably sinking into a culture of corrupt intent?

What were the ‘leaders’ of the many government departments doing when those under their immediate command were caught for corrupt activities? What kind of example are they setting when they themselves are caught for corruption?

Their irresponsibility and neglect should be perceived as a grave dereliction of duty and a compromise of institutional integrity.

All the economic achievements and progress – from raising foreign investment, winning awards from foreign nations, securing major deals with foreign mega-companies – will not be able to protect the nation if corruption seeps into the core of the national guardians: the police and defence forces.

This no longer looks like an isolated incident or a random criminal misdeed. It is beginning to look like a systemic flaw. If this is not curtailed, it could threaten the security of the country and its people.

Yet there is little outrage but only safe and politically correct statements ranging from “let investigators do their job” to warning people including netizens not to ‘speculate’.

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