A theory on why Malays accept corrupt leaders

 Education, economy, religion and party sentiment are said to be among the factors influencing Malays’ attitudes towards corruption.

There is a question that many non-Malays often ask me, and recently even my wife has raised it: why are Najib Razak and Umno still embraced by Malays, from kampung folk to those with tertiary education?

This question resurfaced following Najib’s conditional pardon allowing for house arrest and Umno’s significant victories in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

In this article, I present my theory. Readers may find the issue worthy of a research project, or even a PhD thesis!

Reason one: taxation

Many Malays pay little or no tax. For example, my two children, both university graduates, earn about RM4,000 per month and contribute only a few ringgit in taxes. I, on the other hand, pay a substantial amount in tax, but a high-earning non-Malay friend pays four times more than I do.

Because many Malays do not feel the weight of taxation, corruption involving public funds does not resonate with them. To them, money for the people comes from a Malay-led government. As long as salaries, festive aid and allowances arrive, they are content.

Reason two: government employment

A large proportion of Malays work in government. The civil service and political leadership are overwhelmingly Malay – about 80%. Salaries are paid every month, so even if corruption drains RM40 billion, Malay wages remain unaffected.

People may say the country is drowning in debt due to 1MDB, but salaries still come in. Why then should the Malays worry about corruption?

If salaries were withheld for even one month, Umno would collapse and Najib would be cursed. But as long as salaries and allowances flow, corruption has no impact.

Reason three: lack of awareness

Civil servants and Malay businessmen are rarely told that their wages and development allocations – roads, schools, infrastructure – are funded largely by taxes paid by non-Malays employed outside government.

The plundering of billions through corruption does not strike home because Malays do not feel the burden of national debt. Thus, corrupt leaders chosen by Malays borrow from external sources while siphoning off wealth that rightfully belongs to the people.

Reason four: Islamic education

Whether at school or university, this issue is never taught. Even Islamic education avoids it, focusing instead on moral issues like alcohol, gambling and pork.

There are three aspects of Islam that cause corruption to be accepted or ignored:

• Religious education itself: I have reviewed thousands of Friday sermons, and none explains how tax money becomes salaries or development funds. Corruption is treated as a minor sin, distant and irrelevant to ordinary people.
• Political sermons: Some religious teachers from political parties justify corruption, claiming it is not punishable under hudud because it is absent from classical fiqh texts. So, stealing RM200 shoes may warrant amputation but embezzling RM40 billion is not mentioned. As a result, corruption is seen as less serious than drinking alcohol, not wearing the headscarf, or failing to vote for an Islamic party.
• Preachers from abroad: Some insist that Muslims must vote for Muslim candidates, even if they are weak or immoral, as long as they are Muslim. This is compounded by political parties promising heaven for those who vote for them. Thus, corruption, slander and insults will be tolerated if the party claims to uphold Islam in politics.

Reason five: party benefits

Malays receive benefits – haj trips, kitchen aid, bicycles – from Malay parties. No one ever asks where the money comes from.

At restaurants, Malays check for halal certificates, but when receiving party contributions, they never question the source of funds.

Reason six: the DAP bogeyman

This is the most classic and effective reason: vote for Malay or Islamic parties to prevent DAP from ruling. My wife’s retiree friends recently admitted voting for Umno out of fear that DAP would take over in Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

Malays have never compared the number of DAP members convicted of corruption against Malays from Malay parties.

All they care about is blocking DAP from coming to power because it is a party of infidels. Malays believe it is their religious duty as Muslims to prevent DAP from winning, and in doing so, they feel assured of heaven.

With no proper education at schools, universities or mosques about the impact of corruption, Malays will continue to support parties steeped in it.

I believe that until the end of time, Malays will not change but will go on backing corrupt parties in Malaysia. - FMT

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