Fighting corruption is a serious undertaking

In august 2010, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah wrote the following. As I am now writing articles about corruption, I find it apposite to remind readers of that article. It's about asking ministers to declare their assets.

This is important in order for the public to gauge the integrity of ministers who possess wide discretionary powers. Ministers are given powers by Parliament to become the final arbiters on certain decisions. To waive strict compliance on certain matters. To allow leeway in others.

We give Ministers the powers to make decisions involving vast sums of public money. Those decisions have too often led to bloated or stalled projects, questionable awards of tenders, and inflated contract values.

Meanwhile some Ministers" lifestyles suggest incomes far beyond what they could possibly afford on their salaries. Ministers' assets are not a private matter to be discussed cozily behind closed doors with the Prime Minister. It is not the Prime Minister's money that we are talking about.

Corruption has become institutionalized in our political system. It is ruining this country. This is not just my private belief. Malaysians from all walks of life believe that corruption has become a way of life and know that many of their leaders are corrupt. They know that corruption is so widespread that it has been normalized. They know it deprives them of what is rightfully theirs in the present and stunts their children's future.

The MACC has a huge task in overcoming corruption. They have had to overcome the perception that they are not serious about pursuing corruption wherever it is found. They would have a lot more credibility with the public if their chief commissioner's call for transparency of Minister's assets were heeded.

Nobody is going to believe that members of the cabinet are above corruption, let alone serious about addressing the problem, if they refuse to declare their assets.

In the same measure the assets of former Ministers should also be made public.

But beyond just calls to stem corruption, the calls must surely be followed through by serious attentiveness.

The recent case involving Khir Toyo is a case in point. If we are not careful, which indicators appear to show so, this case may come back to haunt the government. The public will say, the case isn't strong at all and that it's only put up as show.

If we are to make a charge, we must also ensure that the charge sticks. Otherwise, we are going to be opened to charges of unprofessionalism. Can the charge on Khir Toyo stick? It's not a crime if a seller wishes to part with his property and a loss. Stupidity is not a crime.

Sometime people have to sell their property at forced sale prices. Hence if I bought this house a few years ago at RM 6 million, it's my damn bloody business I now want to sell the house at RM 3 million. That is not corruption.

Hence to frame a charge on such a weak foundation will certainly suggest a profound lack of seriousness.