M Santhananaban
This week, people in Malaysia will be fortunate to observe at close quarters both the festive Lunar New Year and the beginning of Ramadan.
But our conversations during these days will probably be more about corruption in all its names and forms.
Are we sinking as a state and society again into the deepest depths of corruption and cover-ups?
It would seem that the long-drawn-out cases of convicted former Prime Minister Najib Razak were not a passing phase. During his time, an attorney general was abruptly removed from office, and that attorney general’s successor simply did not want to countenance any suggestion that Najib was linked to corruption.
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Clearly, corruption and its many manifestations have secured a commanding centre stage in Malaysia.
A culture of silence
For decades, it lurked in the shadows. The mainstream media and well-controlled government narratives had from the 1980s determined that references to corruption must be reserved, responsible and rare in the public domain.
There was, needless to say, much talk about it. But conversations about corruption were kept out of boardroom meetings. At boardroom and ministry level, any talk relating to corruption was more in hushed tones and whispers.
It often affected the closest associates of the most powerful people involved in the biggest national projects. Consumer inflation was well controlled, but the ballooning costs of big projects was accepted and tolerated. The Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal was one of those.
There was, admittedly, much hypocrisy and squeamishness about corruption, because some key movers and shakers had a discreet but dominant role in it.
Back to business as usual?
Today, we are witnessing what appears to be a troubling attempt to deflect attention from alleged abuse of office and corruption touching on the workings of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
Are we now firmly back in the “rasuah dirahsiakan” (corruption-under-wraps) era?
Dato’ M Santhananaban is a former Malaysian ambassador with 45 years of public sector experience.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
It’s Chinese New Year.