To Permadu Malaysia's Post : Yes Corruption Is Identifiable By Those Who Demand Bribes. And What If The Religion Does Not Cover The Subject?

 This is an offtake from Permadu Malaysia's latest post (click here):

1. Corruption is identifiable by those in power who demand the bribes

• His comments come in the wake of criticism by the deputy inspector-general of police, Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, about attempts by certain people to racialise corruption.
• Ayob said some people, whom he did not name, had questioned why the authorities have not been arresting bribe-givers, who are allegedly predominantly non-Muslims.
• In 2022, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang attributed the "root of corruption" to non-Muslims, sparking a range of police reports against him, and a police investigation.

My Comments :  In Malaysia corruption is identifiable by those who deman bribes. No businessman in his right mind will voluntarily offer a bribe. 

There are two main reasons the businessman will not offer a bribe:

i. it is a crime. If he gets caught for corruption he can go to jail.

ii. it adds to his cost. And increases his selling price. 

Lets say a contractor can complete building a shophouse and put it up for sale at RM2.0 million. Then suddenly the local authority (PBT) asks for a 10% bribe or RM200,000 to approve his project. So now his selling price must begin at RM2.2 million.  An extra RM200,000 has been added on to his selling price to cover the RM200,000 bribe paid to the local authority. 

Can he still sell his shop now starting at RM2.2 million? There will always be other shops for sale in that area for a lower "market" price. So the contractor will not be able to sell his shoplot.  He cannot repay the bank loan according to schedule. He will get into financial difficulty. He will lay off his workers. The economy will suffer.  

So the businessman will never voluntarily offer a bribe.

Now in Malaysia who occupies ALL THE POSITIONS OF POWER in the PBT (local authority)? Chinese, Malays, Indians, Japanese, Germans, Sinhalese?  Who are the people in the positions of power "behind the counter"? These are the people who have the power to ASK FOR BRIBES.

Again in Malaysia 90% of the time or 99% of the time who are the applicants for almost ALL licenses, approvals, permits from the local authorities and from the gomen? Chinese, Malays, Indians, Japanese, Germans, Sinhalese?  Who are the people who line up "in front of the counter" at the Majlis Daerah, at the jabatan kerajaan etc applying for a license or an approval or a permit? These are the people who end up PAYING THE BRIBES - otherwise their application will have "problems".

2.  What if the religion is at fault?

Permadu Malaysia says :

"We (Malaysian Muslims) claim we are Islamic, Malaysia is an Islanic country even though quietly and deeply in our heart, we know that we are  . By doing so, we betray Islam, damaging the true value of the religion. Corruption has been compromised by political factor. Unfortunately, since Merdeka, fighting corruption looks like fighting political enemies," says Permadu Malaysia.

My Comments :  I have been hearing this argument for decades. "There must be something wrong with the Muslims. They are very far away  from  the true Islam".

But according to the kepala lebai in Pas corruption is NOT A HUDUD OFFENSE.

 

 The Quran says otherwise:

Surah 2:188

 ll  وَلَا تَأْكُلُوٓا۟ أَمْوَٰلَكُم بَيْنَكُم بِٱلْبَـٰطِلِ وَتُدْلُوا۟ بِهَآ إِلَى ٱلْحُكَّامِ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ فَرِيقًۭا مِّنْ أَمْوَٰلِ ٱلنَّاسِ بِٱلْإِثْمِ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ   ll

"Do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly, nor deliberately bribe the authorities in order to devour a portion of others’ property, knowing that it is a sin".

Shouldnt the hudud laws be based on the Quran? The Quran says clearly  "nor deliberately bribe the authorities  in order to devour a portion of others’ property, knowing that it is a sin".

So if the hudud law does not have a proviso against corruption, how do you expect the Muslims to understand that corruption is wrong? 

But why doesnt the hudud law have clear provisos against corruption when the Quran already says bribing people is a sin?

There is no such thing as a fixed ta'zir punishment in Islam either. Ta'zir simply means the judges discretion. 

There is no such thing as 'Haji Osman Ali, you are being sentenced to a punishment of xx yy for corruption under Para A, Section 123 of the Hukum Tazir'. There is no such punishment either. 

So sometimes you have to look into the religion as it has been interpreted and practised.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.