Friday, September 28, 2007
Tolerating Corruption
I think for all Malaysians who are abroad, the recent news that have been coming out of the country are certainly making us feel very helpless and glum indeed. For those of us who are staying in countries that do not tolerate corruption, I’m sure we have all asked ourselves at one point or another why Malaysia can’t be the same.
And I’m afraid part of the reason why lies with us Malaysians as a whole. I have always believed that Malaysians are a very tolerant lot. We tolerate high level corruption because it does not affect us directly. We tolerate medium level corruption because we like to mind our own business. We tolerate low level corruption because we just want to quietly earn our living and stay away from too much trouble. And I’m sure we will also tolerate Lingamgate because we have been tolerating so many other scandals before it anyway.
In fact, Malaysians from all walks of life know that we have a corrupted government and the only disagreement over this issue is probably the extent of it. Yet, we have learned to tolerate corruption as a way of life and resigned to the fact that there is nothing much we can do about it. Furthermore, if the majority of Malaysians do not find it a problem to be BN supporters, that just shows that voters do not have the issue of corruption at the top of their list of priorities in any election.
Therefore, I for one am pessimistic that BN can be dislodged from the seat of power through the ballot box no matter how corrupted it may be. Malaysians are too divided and would rather tolerate corruption than vote for opposition parties that supposedly represent a different community than their own. It is unfortunate, really, because the war on corruption can be such a great rallying cry for all Malaysians to want a change for the better. After all, corruption cuts across racial lines and religious boundaries. But for BN to fall, it means the Chinese and Indians need to vote for PAS and PKR while the Malays need to swing behind DAP. It means we need to upset the cart of stability. It means being prepared to want PAS, PKR and DAP to rule. And that means getting out of our comfort zones and I’m not sure how many Malaysians are prepared to do that.
So, if it is strictly through the ballot box, BN will continue to rule for quite some time yet because at the moment, Malaysians in general would rather tolerate corruption at the expense of change. Moreover, Lingamgate will be stale news a month or two from now although there are bound to be other “gates” down the line to haunt Malaysians. But it’s ok, Malaysians are highly tolerant creatures after all.
And I’m afraid part of the reason why lies with us Malaysians as a whole. I have always believed that Malaysians are a very tolerant lot. We tolerate high level corruption because it does not affect us directly. We tolerate medium level corruption because we like to mind our own business. We tolerate low level corruption because we just want to quietly earn our living and stay away from too much trouble. And I’m sure we will also tolerate Lingamgate because we have been tolerating so many other scandals before it anyway.
In fact, Malaysians from all walks of life know that we have a corrupted government and the only disagreement over this issue is probably the extent of it. Yet, we have learned to tolerate corruption as a way of life and resigned to the fact that there is nothing much we can do about it. Furthermore, if the majority of Malaysians do not find it a problem to be BN supporters, that just shows that voters do not have the issue of corruption at the top of their list of priorities in any election.
Therefore, I for one am pessimistic that BN can be dislodged from the seat of power through the ballot box no matter how corrupted it may be. Malaysians are too divided and would rather tolerate corruption than vote for opposition parties that supposedly represent a different community than their own. It is unfortunate, really, because the war on corruption can be such a great rallying cry for all Malaysians to want a change for the better. After all, corruption cuts across racial lines and religious boundaries. But for BN to fall, it means the Chinese and Indians need to vote for PAS and PKR while the Malays need to swing behind DAP. It means we need to upset the cart of stability. It means being prepared to want PAS, PKR and DAP to rule. And that means getting out of our comfort zones and I’m not sure how many Malaysians are prepared to do that.
So, if it is strictly through the ballot box, BN will continue to rule for quite some time yet because at the moment, Malaysians in general would rather tolerate corruption at the expense of change. Moreover, Lingamgate will be stale news a month or two from now although there are bound to be other “gates” down the line to haunt Malaysians. But it’s ok, Malaysians are highly tolerant creatures after all.
Labels: Corruption
# posted by Malaysian Abroad @ 9/28/2007 
Comments:
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Unfortunately, I have a feeling that even if we can topple BN, the next government will also be corrupt.
You are right. We, Malaysians, allow it.
How many malaysians would pay a traffic fine instead of bribing the police? As long as we do this, we cannot complain the police is corrupted and will change.
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You are right. We, Malaysians, allow it.
How many malaysians would pay a traffic fine instead of bribing the police? As long as we do this, we cannot complain the police is corrupted and will change.
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