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No room for corruption in 1Malaysia

THERE is a need for Malaysians from
all walks of life to understand what
constitutes corruption and bribery
if the anti-corruption efforts of the
government and its agencies are to be
effective. There is a need for the citi-
zenry to be fully involved in the fight
against corruption if we want to boast
of a squeaky clean 1Malaysia.
If the people want a transparent
government that has the highest integ-
rity, they themselves must be ethical
and uphold the highest standards of
morality. Malaysians must stop this
finger pointing game and look at
themselves, inside themselves if they
truly love their country.
Understanding the meanings which
are formally defined and listed in
dictionaries, thesauruses, encyclopae-
dias and specialist texts is one aspect
of communication and cognition,
perception and interpretation. There
are many more “meanings” which the
human mind is capable of processing.
Corruption is generally defined
as … acting dishonestly in return for
money or personal gains or, abuse
of power by those in positions of
authority. Bribery refers to the act
of … dishonestly paying or giving of
inducement in money or kind to some-
one to act in one’s favour. Therefore
by their formal definitions, corruption
and bribery are two sides of the same
coin – dishonesty. The receiver is as
dishonest as the giver.
When you extend the context of
interpretation both parties are com-
mitting unethical acts in the eyes of
society. In the eyes of religion, corrup-
tion and bribery are immoral and sin-
ful acts. Different societies may assign
different values to questions of ethics
and morality.
Different cultures may view these
acts differently. In some cultures
giving an inducement before or after
seeking a favour may be an acceptable
practice. In some cultures showing
one’s gratitude can be in the form of
a sincere “thank you” while in other
societies gratitude is shown by way of
gifts in cash or in kind.
How then does a nation, especially
a multiracial, multireligious and mul-
ticultural one, define and manage
corruption and bribery which disrupts
and destroys the legitimacy of its min-
istries, agencies and departments and
ultimately of itself?
It becomes a tussle between the
public and the private sector, between
a nation and its citizenry. How does a
government make its anti-corruption
efforts relevant to the people? How can
they be effectively managed?
Abuse of power and authority is
immoral in any form. When people
who have been given the duty and re-
sponsibility of looking after the public
good are dishonest, there’s no question
that they are indeed corrupt.
When they use the opportunities,
rights, privileges meant for the public
to further their own interests or fatten
their own pockets, they are corrupted.
When they ask for and receive bribes
for doing work which is within their
line of duty they are clearly abusive.
What about the private citizen who
abuses the law and then tries to
wrangle his way out of it by bribing
the people in authority?
What about the man in the street
who gives the policeman or Rela officer
RM50 for withdrawing a summons or
letting an illegal worker stay in the
country? What about the businessman
who takes the family of a government
officer for a holiday for pushing his
application through?
What about, yes, what about the
foreign investor who gives a govern-
ment minister the time of his life in a
luxury hotel in Dubai for endorsing a
billion-dollar project?
Yes – corruption and corruptibility
occurs along a continuum and if it is
not clearly defined and explicated by
watchdog bodies like the National
Integrity Institute, Transparency
International, Corporate Governance,
etc and the individual department and
business house, etc, Malaysians will
plead ignorance or worse, point to oth-
ers – never at themselves.
Clear guidelines as to what consti-
tutes corruption and bribery must be
in place at all levels in the public and
public sectors. Workers and staff must
be constantly engaged in discourse
regarding these two scourges of society
in order that they are imbued with an
acute awareness and knowledge of
right and wrong in the workplace.
Slogans and posters must be put up
in strategic areas to warn people of the
seriousness of these offences and their
repercussions.
Of course, religious and moral edu-
cation must be intensified at all levels.
Halimah Mohd Said
Kuala Lumpur

What else do you want, my friends?

I REFER to the recent anti-ISA protest on Aug 1,
which almost brought the capital to its knees.
Malaysia has made great strides in many
fields, viz economic, social, education, etc, which
Strengthen national
What is there to be afraid of a law if you be-
lieve you are doing the right thing and at the same
time exercising self control? Every law including
the ISA aims at protecting peace and tranquillity
depends more on the peace and harmony the
country has enjoyed over the years. In fact, Ma-
laysia is admired by many who want to follow
the Malaysian example. Throughout my stay in
education system
of a particular society. Malaysia, being a unique Malaysia, almost two decades, I have seen the I REFER to “Why having English-me- and harmony. Once there is peace, the
country, in terms of its multiracial and multireli- country grow year by year in many aspects of dium schools makes sense” (July 28). people will naturally galvanise their
gious society, needs to take appropriate measures life. The writer, certain NGOs and individu- resources to develop this nation. Only
through laws to safeguard the peace, harmony The people need to be patient with the laws, als have called for the government to then can we talk about attracting for-
and prosperity which have been enjoyed over the be it ISA or other laws. After all the aim of ISA allow urban schools the option of eign investors to our shores and at the
years. To quote a Malaysian professor, “Malaysia is to safeguard the existing peace and harmony continuing with the policy to teach same time open doors for Malaysians
is in stable tension” due to its ethnic makeup, in Malaysia. We should bear in mind that things science and maths in English or even to work overseas. On hindsight, there is
with each race striving to get equal share of the cannot change overnight rather changes come reintroduce English-medium schools. no reason why the national language,
national cake. To maintain or reduce this tension with changes in other aspects and maturity of the Every citizen should be concerned being a language of knowledge, cannot
requires a yeoman’s job. people. Rome, they say, was not built in a day. I because this proposition is self-serving be globalised if we have the intelligence
Malaysians should bear in mind that Malaysia remember a line in a poem which goes, “Man and does not augur well for the greater and tenacity to develop it into one.
is still a young country and in no way should be oh man. Man will never be satisfied …” Again, interest of the nation. It ignores the ru- To blame the introduction of the
equated with developed countries who claim if you want to satisfy everybody you will end up ral-urban divide and puts the national national language as the medium of
to practise “freedom of speech”. It took these satisfying nobody. language in the back seat. instruction in the 70s for the decline in
countries hundreds of years to fully implement As a Ghanaian living here, I always tell my The reversal of the policy is not the command of English among Malay-
the so called freedom of speech. These countries Malaysian friends to be grateful. In fact, I am a purely a case of holding back the urban sians today is inappropriate. This pitiful
have laws which put restrictions on their citizens Malaysian product myself as I benefited from the schools in their progress so that the situation is largely due to the overzeal-
regarding freedom of speech when it comes to prosperity of this country as far as education and gap is made narrower. It is an effort to ous implementation of the policy and
national security issues. The United States, for self development is concerned. Terima Kasih standardise and enhance the educa- also the relative short-sightedness of
example, a country known to champion democ- Malaysia. tion system so that children in this the planners of our education system
racy and freedom of speech, used the Patriot Act M’sia to country are fittingly guided and given then.
in the aftermath of 9/11, to restrict or deny some Ali Salman see robust a fair chance to pursue knowledge and If we had promoted English
freedom in the name of national security. Bangi excel in life later on. At the same time, earnestly during that time and given
growth the national language will be accorded special attention to the language as
next year its rightful status and continue to play a a second language, then the position
pg 14 pivotal role in nation building. might have been different altogether
If the proposal is somehow ac- now. However, we should not continue
Join us this Sunday cepted, it will further disintegrate to sulk about the past but instead

@ Calvary Church!
our school system which is already use our energy to ensure we do not
fragmented. We should focus our repeat the same mistake. We should
Assemblies of God efforts on consolidating the national immediately grab the opportunity in
DAMANSARA HEIGHTS education system and not champion the government’s plan to strengthen
2, Jln Damansara Endah, Damansara Heights, 50490 KL something to the contrary. We should English proficiency among Malaysians,
Worship Services @ 8am 10.30am 5pmO O look at the big picture and have the and make it a success.
Interpretation into Bahasa Malaysia interest of future generations at heart. Nevertheless, I believe all human
& Cantonese at 10.30am Always remember that we will have to beings are born with the inherent
SCG & CW @ 8am 10.30am O
live in this big family of Malaysians for capability for languages. Thus, by
DAMANSARA PERDANA years to come. implementing the right strategies,
4th Floor, 20 Jln PJU 8/5G, As much as we are unanimous Malaysians no doubt would be able to
Bandar Damansara Perdana, 47820 PJ on the importance of English in this converse effectively in at least Malay
Worship Service @10.30am information age, no other language and English.
Interpretation into Bahasa Malaysia
SCG @ 9am & CW @10.30am
can replace the national language in
its role of unifying the different races Zamri Mahmud
CHERAS in this country, a prerequisite for peace Kuala Lumpur
2nd & 3rd Floor, Block C, Lot 18113,
off Jln Cerdas, Taman Connaught, 56000 KL
Worship Service @ 9am
Interpretation into Cantonese
SCG @ 10.45am & CW @ 9am
Use referendum to decide on ISA
A REFERENDUM might be the best way to know France, China and India came into being as a
AMPANG
for certain the rakyat’s feeling’s on the Internal result of the brave actions by the minority.
7th Floor, Wisma Central, Jln Ampang, 50450 KL
Security Act (ISA). Let the people decide whether The majority of Americans did not fight
Worship Service @ 10.30am
Interpretation into Cantonese it should be retained or abolished. against the British for independence, it was not
SCG @ 9am & CW @ 10.30am In “Anti-ISA protesters don’t represent the the majority who overthrew the monarchies in
SCG|School of Christian Growth (Bible Study classes) majority”, (Letters, Aug 4) the writer says, “I Russia and France.
CW|Carpenter’s Workshop (Children’s programme) would be pleased if the government locks up Similarly, there were hardly 100,000 Indians
the masterminds of the demo under the ISA.” who joined Mahatma Gandhi in his Salt March
For non-Muslims only

Tel: 03-7728 6000 The writer should understand that a person who which led to him declaring India’s independence,
http://www.calvary.org.my is deemed to be a threat to the state, especially so also it was certainly not the majority of the
during times of peace, should be put on trial and Chinese who fought alongside Chairman Mao
judged by his peers (the jury). Zedong.
If the writer is saying that anti-ISA protesters
do not represent the majority, he or she should Baki Aminuddin
Senior Pastor: Rev. Tan Sri Prince Guneratnam, M.A., D.D., D.Litt., LLD.
know that great nations like the US, Russia, Ampang