THE Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) must be commended for bringing to book the corrupt officials in Sabah’s colossal corruption case involving the director and deputy director of the Sabah Water Department.
It is mind-boggling that these two civil servants could have amassed almost RM115 million. But what is more perplexing is that the Sabah government is blind to their activities.
It would be almost impossible to conduct such corrupt practices without the connivance of other vested parties in the Sabah government’s administration. This corrupt scheme must be so elaborate and inclusive that it blinded the authorities. The public and certain officials lodged complaints as far back as 2011, but the government did nothing to investigate. It was left to MACC to unearth this colossal corruption.
It is surprising that the Sabah government does not have a systemic monitoring system to vet projects and other irregular transactions.
The latest misappropriation of public funds exposed by MACC suggests that corruption is endemic in Malaysia and it must be seriously addressed. Corruption at the highest level of governance is not helping either for it sets a bad example for others.
A cursory glance at the recent corrupt cases shows cross-occupational involvements, ranging from a few hundred ringgit at the lower occupational rungs to hundreds of millions of ringgit at the upper echelon of occupational strata.
There is no documentation or indictment of corrupt practices at the highest level.
Greed seems to be the main cause of corruption, as well as to sustain a lavish lifestyle.
There may also be cases of corrupt practices by the low-income group to make ends meet. Another probable cause at the lower levels is the examples set by the top echelon.
Curbing corruption is not that easy as it has become cancerous, affecting a significant part of the populace. Some may say it is a part of our lifeline and culture, but that is too drastic because there are still honest government servants and the lay public who eke out an honest living. Their honesty and integrity are, however, overwhelmed by the dishonesty and cheating of the rich and powerful.
Even if in the unlikely scenario of politicians, lawmakers and civil servants becoming impeccable role models of integrity and honesty with a strong moral bias, corruption would exist for those who cannot resist the easy pathway to riches and power.
The electronic and print media are equally culpable for advertising visuals of luxurious lifestyles of the rich and powerful, and promoting them as the norms enticing the less fortunate to dream and to want such a lifestyle that is beyond their meagre salaries, which may not be enough to feed their families.
Some desperate citizens would throw caution to the wind and succumb to corrupt practices.
Corruption at all levels must be dealt with swiftly without fear or favour, irrespective of the position of the perpetrators. Selective persecution or immunity from persecution will send a wrong message to the people and will not augur well.
The state and federal governments must play their part to ensure clean governance by having systemic monitoring procedures to detect and prevent corruption. Any misdemeanour must be dealt with swiftly and efficiently as a warning that the state or federal authorities brook no nonsense when it comes to corruption.
In this context, the Sabah government has failed to address this scourge as it does not have systemic procedures to effectively monitor financial transactions and allocations, as well as the selection and awarding of projects tendered.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman has suggested a review of the management of federal allocations and state funds. Even Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, who is the infrastructure development minister, admitted the need to set up a monitoring system.
It is clear the Sabah government needs a total review and revamp of its governance and standard operating procedures to ensure that public funds are not misappropriated.
State ministers must reassess their portfolios and ensure the good governance and the administration of their ministries and not just leave things to their senior officials.
The Sabah episode is only the tip of the iceberg. MACC must continue to safeguard the interests of the people by bringing to book all and sundry implicated in corrupt practices irrespective of their social, corporate or political positions.
MOHAMED GHOUSE NASURUDDIN,
Penang