Anti-corruption ‘revolution’ imperative and long overdue

 

Although they may not admit it, Malaysians often gaze across the Johor strait with a pang of envy. Singapore, separated by just 1.9km of seawater, boasts a GDP per capita several times our own. This disparity begs the question: what holds Malaysia back from realising its potential?

The answer lies not in geography or in the quality of the drinking water, but in the sheer gulf of difference in the competency and integrity of the governance systems.

For decades, a systemic disease – a predominantly rent seeking economy reliant on corruption and thus stifling of good governance – has corroded Malaysia’s public institutions and hampered the nation’s progress.

This corrosive influence transcends economic loss; it seeps into our collective psyche, warping perspectives on basic civic value systems and fostering a disturbing tolerance for cronyism, incompetence, negligence, and corrupt leadership.

This is not to ignore the fact that there are many ordinary citizens and others in politics, government and business who are committed to ensuring that these endemic issues are kept in check and curtailed. It is this effort that has enabled the country to stay afloat despite the large-scale failure of governance.

The problem becomes starkly evident when we consider the fate of those in government exposed as having committed financial misdeeds. In Malaysia, leaders embroiled in billion-ringgit scandals may face charges yet continue to retain power, have charges miraculously dropped and are still revered by large segments of the population. This phenomenon is almost unheard of in higher-income countries where the taint of corruption relegates one to the realm of pariahs.

This tolerance stems from a corrupted value system, mirrored in our own actions. We turn a blind eye to everyday corruption having become inured to its many forms in all walks of life: bribing low-level officials, bending traffic rules, ignoring local council fines, breaking environmental laws. Our acceptance of such mundane transgressions paves the way for grander thefts by our leaders. At one level, our very way of life makes one complicit, we are all snared by the epidemic.

Therefore, a clean-up or a revolution is far overdue and is an imperative. Starting at the top, the government’s pursuit of those involved in past scandals is a welcome step.

Public exposure of these cases should sear into our collective psyche, burning away our tolerance for such grand scale malpractices and theft. Therefore, the government, going after malfeasance in past projects and unearthing cases which were previously swept under the carpet, is a welcome move. One can sense a public awakening and support, it is palpable. Needless to say, everyone is innocent until proven guilty and the wheels of justice should be allowed to turn without political interference as is too often the case.

While the ongoing efforts of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to combat graft are a step in the right direction, it is just the first note in what should be a sustained symphony of reform.

At 66, our democracy and governance systems are still young, and we have much to do to make them resilient, as even established nations like the US still grapple with the hydra of insidious corruption. This moment presents a unique opportunity for Malaysia to leapfrog through radical systemic change, a generational opportunity not to be squandered.

Looking southward to Singapore offers a compelling model of good governance even if not perfect. We have to fashion our own and use this moment to set new standards in the region.

In Singapore, a mere accusation of corruption triggers swift action. Ministers resign, relinquishing their privileges pending legal redress. The recent case of S Iswaran, transport minister and a key member of the ruling party exemplifies this. While dwarfed by our billion-ringgit scandals, Iswaran’s acceptance of tickets to F1, musicals, soccer games and flights worth S$385,000 (RM1.5 million) triggered intense public censure and the full weight of the law. The minister promptly fell on his sword and is left with no choice but to fight his case in court.

This starkly contrasts with Malaysia’s sluggish responses, leaving the public disillusioned and questioning the very foundations of authority and the rule of law. It has many believing that even the judicial system is corrupt, and judges can be bought. No wonder then, that many seek greener pastures abroad. The taint of corruption impacts lives irrevocably, pricing individuals out of fair systems and deepening the rot within our institutions. No Malaysian minister or high-ranking politician has ever done this, so entrenched is their belief they are untouchable.

This is not just a moral failing; it’s an economic haemorrhage. Citizens lose hope, the best and brightest leave or even worse ape their leaders. Investors lose confidence, policy making is hampered, rent seeking thrives, businesses falter, and the value of our currency plummets. Look at what is happening now; the ringgit wallows at an all-time low against the Singapore dollar, a stark reminder of the cost of inaction.

This current political soul-searching and introspection as well as the groundswell of public awareness and support is a good thing – it presents a critical opportunity. We must harness the momentum of reform to purge the ranks of our political system and elite business circles of corrupt individuals and rebuild trust in our institutions.

Two key measures demand immediate attention. First, asset declarations by all politicians and top technocrats of GLCs and GLICs must be made mandatory. This is an administrative measure that should be easily put in place, unless shamelessly resisted by members of Parliament and elites. This form of transparency safeguards, now being applied by MACC – who are being accused of being selective – needs to be universally implemented, establishing a culture where conflicts of interest are minimised and ensuring accountability before misconduct occurs again.

This is not simply a checkbox exercise; it’s a systemic revolution, a shift from whispers, slander, and speculation to clear, unobscured accountability, open to public scrutiny. All serving politicians, top civil servants, and leaders of the GLCs and GLICs should be given three months to declare or step down.

Let the message be clear: holding high office is a public service and comes with the expectation of being beyond reproach and the price of absolute transparency. No one, regardless of position or privilege, should profit from public service in the shadows. This should not be about witch hunts or public shaming. It’s about building a foundation of trust with the public, where integrity, not opacity, defines the governance system. It’s about ensuring that those entrusted with power serve the people, not their own pockets.

Second, a temporary amnesty programme, though unorthodox, could incentivise compromised political leaders and officials to come clean before the net closes in on them. They can resign and leave. A similar approach was adopted in Hong Kong in the 1970s when tackling corruption in the police force, where an amnesty for corruption crimes was granted. This allowed the force to purge its worst elements, reorganise, and eventually become one of the world’s best police forces.

Resignation in exchange for limited amnesty, with restrictions on future public roles and potential investigations by MACC, could expedite the cleansing process. Rules must be established for the limited amnesty. Certain civil penalties may be waived, but MACC’s pursuit of justice should remain unhindered. This is not about forgiveness; it’s about pragmatic cleansing, a necessary step towards a brighter future. Political parties will be put on notice and thus themselves start leading a clean up with their ranks. This is not as far-fetched as it seems.

It’s a calculated trade-off – truth and swift cleansing for limited immunity. It is not a get-out-of-jail free card; it’s about prioritising a cleaner future. It’s about making a pragmatic choice to expedite the cleansing process and a chance to cut the cancerous tumours of corruption from the body politic.

Yes, resistance will be fierce and there will be a price to be paid as heads roll and some instability rocks the government. But the cost of inaction is far greater. We’re drowning in a sea of cynicism, our economy flounders, our best minds flee and the hardship experienced by the disenfranchised majority will only get worse as money meant for public service is diverted for private gain.

Malaysia cannot afford to wait and must put an end to the ingrained view among the politicians and even those in the civil service that once in office they can run roughshod over the law, and they are entitled to enriching themselves by all means possible.

We must seize this moment to cure the disease of corruption spearheaded by leading politicians, enabled by government servants and exploited by business elites so that the citizens take back the ownership of the country, paving the way for a Malaysia that lives up to its true potential. - FMT

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