Corruption

Nowadays, issue on corruption becomes one of the hottest topics of discussion. From the Khalid Ibrahim’s cows and car issues to the money politics in UMNO that led to Ali Rustam being barred from contesting the UMNO’s No. 2 post (which by convention will make the incumbent the Malaysia Deputy Prime Minister).

In my discussion here, I am going to talk about the corruption in general perspective without pointing to any particular individual.

In Islam, corruption is illegal (haram) as the Prophet Muhammad pbuh said in his hadith, “arraasyi walmurtasyi finnar” which means “the person who gave bribe and the person who received it, both will be in the hell”.

In Malaysia, though we do not apply Islamic law, corruption is also an offence and punishable under the relevant laws. In fact, I believe that corruption is an offence everywhere. I also believe that corruption is very dangerous in the sense that it can cause a nation’s fall down.

We may have the relevant laws to counter corruption but it may not solve the problem because we do not find its root cause. The law is there to punish the offenders but it does not necessarily stop others from committing the same offence. I do not need to prove my point, as this fact is a judicial notice (known to the public without the need to prove it in court). We do hear people say “prevention is better than cure” but what do we need to do to prevent corruption instead of curing it though punishment? The answer is simple as we need to recognize the root cause of the problem.

What is/are then the root cause of corruption? Musa Hassan (the IGP) felt that low salary was the cause of corruption in police force as it was reported that Musa Hassan has called on the government to pay his officers properly saying it would help tackle the problem of corruption in theforce.

With due respect I do not agree with him. I’ll discuss at the later part of this posting.

We also do hear that education starts at home. I do agree that education starts at home but there are good education and bad education. Corruption starts at home. Just to give a quick understanding of what I meant by “corruption starts at home”, corruption, in my own understanding is a practice of giving unnecessary reward or unnecessary additional reward to someone for doing something, which is his/her responsibility to do it. When I have the responsibility to do something, no matter what, I have to do it because it is my responsibility. However, when someone starts to pay me to do what is already my responsibility, there is a strong tendency that I will be asking for money before I perform my responsibility and that is corruption. So, corruption is a bad education.

Parents nowadays give money to their children to fast, to pray, to study and a lot more things that has become the duty of the children. Some parents said that the money is to encourage and to instill interest in their children to pray, fast, etc and it is sort of incentive. It may sound logic and workable but then again, “the end does not justify the means”. At the end of the day, we will have children who pray, fast, etc for material reward and not because they feel that it is their duty to do so. The same thing goes to helping parents with the house chores. Parents should not pay their children to do the house chores. Make it upon them (the children) that it is their responsibility to help their parents with the house chores. The same thing goes to academic achievements. It has become a trend nowadays for parents to promise this and that to their children if they achieve the target set by their parents in the examination. In the end, they study because of the promise made by the parent and not because they feel that it is their responsibility to study and excel in their examination. It has come to the stage whereby a friend of mine told me that his eldest son asked him beginning of the year of what would he (the father) give to him (the son) as a present if he manage to be the top student in his class?

So, if children have been taught at home that it is nothing wrong for them to demand for reward to do something that is obliged upon them to do, what make you think that they will feel that it is wrong for them to ask for money before they do their job when they enter working era?

Now, the reason why I do not agree with Musa Hassan on his view how to fight corruption in the police force is because it is the nature of human being that what they get will never be enough (in general) for them. Low salary is not the factor to corruption. You may have someone earning 5 figures salary but still practice corruption because what they get is never enough for them. You may earn low salary but if you can live within your means, then your salary should be enough. So, salary is not the factor here. It depends very much on the person’s upbringing at home.

And we always hear parents said that “children nowadays…” when in actual fact, the phrase should be “parents nowadays…” Can we say, “parents nowadays teach their children to be materialistic” than “children nowadays are materialistic”?

Corruption is Everywhere

In response to the recent corruption case surronding the Immigration involving its DG and Deputy DG, Si Bedol said that "arrest shows that even big fish can be caught". Yes, for the first time or may be not the first time but definitely first time after a long time that I agree with si Bedol. But then, I asked myself a question-Is this for real? Or is it just a political gimmick? Forgive me for being skeptical. All for reason.

When si Bedol took over the premiership from Tun Mahathir, he said he would fight corruption. He said there were about eighty high profile corruption cases that would be brought to justice. But until now, only two cases that I can remember of. One of it is the case involving Eric Chia and the other case is Kasitah Gadam. Well, Eric Chia was released in the end and Kasitah Gadam's case is still being heard in KL High Court. (Even then, there was a slight deviation of people's attention when Yong Teck Lee was investigated as a result of statement made by witness in Kasitah Gadam's case. Conincidentally, the investigation was made soon after Yong Teck Lee's party i.e SAPP annoucened that they would be tabling motion of no confidence against si Bedol). The question is what happened to the other seventy over high profile corruption cases?

When si Bedol took over as the Prime Minister, he did make few surprise visits to the government departments. And that was it. After that, no more. Well, I am not saying that as a PM, si Bedol needs to keep on visiting the government department to do spot check as he has a lot of other important things to do, but why did he do that (surprise visit) during his early days as a PM? To me if you want to do something, do it continuously. I mean, on and off, go and do surprise visit. If he could do it then, why can't he do it now?

More often than not, nowadays, we hear this fellow said that I have evidence of wrongdoing against this person and that fellow has evidence of wrongdoing against this person. Look at Ezam. When he was with PKR, he was arrested and detained under OSA, as he alleged that he had the secrets of few ministers (of course we are talking about their bad deeds). He was put behind bars for that. He had every opportunity to disclose the "secrets" when he was with the government but he chose not to do so. Anwar Ibrahim said that he has eveidence against Najib but where is it? Why does he needs to keep those evidence and bring it out piece by piece. And now Ezam said that he has evidence against Anwar. What is this? Come on!!! If you really have those evidences, for the sake of the people that you said you are fighting for (i.e. you and me), disclose it, so that justice could be served. Do not use it as a lethal weapon and for your own political interest? Are they suggesting that a crime is not a crime if they got what they want but it will become a crime if they do not get what they want? These are all rubbish!!!

Now, coming back to the corruption issue, I do hope that this time around, the government is damn serious in fighting the corruption at all level. No one should be spared. I do hope that this Immigration corruption scandal is not one of the "lethal weapon", as described above and used for one's political interest. If you want to do it, do it for the nation. Do it for justice. Go and do thorough checking at all government departments and any other agencies where public has interest in them. I believe that they will find more corruption cases.

On or about the same time the immigration corruption scandal made known to the public, there was another shock revelation made in Gemas police station when a policeman has lodged a report against all his colleagues including his superiors allegedly over dissatisfaction on how the monthly bribes from those operating illegal activities was being distributed. In retaliation, one of his superiors, a sergeant, lodged another police report against the policeman, a lance corporal, for allegedly selling station property to scrap dealers. So now, the whole world knows that all policemen in Gemas police station involve in corruption. Do you guys surprised? A little bit for me.

I must say that this corruption scandal in Immigration Department and the one in Gemas police station have served to confirm my belief that corruption is everywhere in government.

Last but not least, I quote again what si Bedol said that "arrest shows that even big fish can be caught". While it is good to catch the big fish, it is better to catch the bigger fish. I am sure you guys know what I mean.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/14/nation/20080714183419&sec=nation

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/11/nation/21793315&sec=nation

p/s: Don't those UMNO fellows scared about Ezam? For all they know, after joining UMNO back, Ezam may have more secrets (the one fresh from oven) and it may be used against them in the future just as what Ezam did when he was in PKR (against UMNO) and now he is back in UMNO (against Anwar and PKR). This guy is very dangerous. If there are Ezam and a snake in front of you, I am sure you know which one to kill first, right?

Bola Sepak dan Rasuah

Berikut adalah petikan laporan akhbar dalam Mingguan Malaysia semalam: -

Presiden FAM

Baginda kesal dan terkejut dengan perkembangan di Sarawak yang dianggap tidak sepatutnya berlaku dalam sukan bola sepak negara.

"BPR (Badan Pencegah rasuah) harus menyiasat dengan terperinci. Persatuan-persatuan bola sepak setiap negeri juga harus membuat siasatan dalaman mengenai perkara ini.

"FAM tidak mahu penyakit (rasuah) ini mencemarkan maruah bola sepak negara," titah baginda.

"FAM akan ambil tindakan sekiranya didapati ada pemain yang dibuktikan terlibat dengan penyakit ini."

"Mereka adalah pemain profesional dan tidak sepatutnya terlibat dalam kegiatan yang mencemarkan maruah bola sepak negara.

"Pemain selalu diingatkan supaya tidak mendekati penyakit ini kerana ia sangat memalukan maruah bola sepak negara di peringkat antarabangsa. FAM akan ambil tindakan jika ada pemain yang terlibat," tegasnya.

Secar jujurnya saya terkejut yang Presiden FAM terkejut dengan isu rasuah ini. Ia bukan sesuatu yang baru. Selepas gejala rasuah teruk melanda arena bolasepak Malaysia (yang tak maju mana pun walau tanpa gejala rasuah) sekitar 1990-an, apa langkah drastik yang diambil oleh FAM bagi memastikan ia tidak berulang?

Bagi saya, yang penting ialah mengenal pasti mengapa pemain bola sepak Malaysia perlu menerima suapan? Suapan sentiasa berhubung kait dengan wang. Wang! Isu yang menarik. Acap kali kita mendengar pemain-pemain bola sepak di negara ini tidak dibayar gaji selama berbulan-bulan lamanya dan setiap kali itu jugalah FAM akan tampil selaku penyelamat. Pemain bola sepak juga adalah manusia biasa. Mereka ini adalah pemain profesional yang bermakna mereka menjadikan bola sepak sebagai sumber pendapatan mereka. Maka, apabila mereka bermain tanpa dibayar gaji, adakah salah mereka sepenuhnya sekiranya mereka terlibat dengan gejala rasuah? Saya tidak menghalalkan rasuah di sini, tetapi sebelum kita menghukum mereka atas tuduhan rasuah, adalah lebih kita menghukum persatuan bola sepak negeri yang gagal membayar gaji pemain. Mencegah lebih baik dari mengubati. Menghukum pemain semata-mata, tidak bermakna kerana ia sekadar mahu mengubati dan memastikan persatuan negeri membayar gaji pemain setiap bulan adalah tindakan pencegahan.

Presiden FAM juga mengatakan yang sebagai pemain profesional, mereka tidak sepatutnya terlibat dalam gejala rasuah. Apa gunanya mempunyai pemain profesional jika pentadbiran persatuan negeri dan FAM sendiri tidak profesional. Bagi saya antara ciri utama profesional ialah mengotakan apa yang dijanjikan iaitu membayar gaji seperti mana yang dinyatakan di dalam kontrak. Jadi jika FAM dan persatuan bola sepak negeri sendiri tidak profesional, janganlah diharapkan mereka ini mampu melahirkan pemain profesional. Ibarat ketam mengajar anaknya berjalan.

Mengapa FAM perlu malu di peringkat antarabangsa dengan gejala rasuah yang melanda. Bagi saya mereka perlu lebih malu dengan kedudukan ranking pasukan bola sepak Malaysia kini. Jika dilihat dari segi infrantruktur, Malaysia seharusnya tidak mempunyai masalah untuk menjadi pasukan yang disegani, jika tidak di Asia, di Asia Tenggara sudah pasti. Yang berlaku adalah sebaliknya. Di Asia Tenggara sendiri pun pasukan Negara masih terkial-kial. Pemain dan jurulatih silih berganti. Namun Presiden dan pucuk pimpinan masih orang yang sama. Jadi siapa punca masalahnya? Jawapan jelas di depan mata, cuma mereka sengaja membutakan mata untuk tidak melihatnya.

Bekas Setiausaha Agung, FAM (Ibrahim Saad)

"Saya merupakan orang pertama yang membuat laporan berhubung masalah rasuah dalam bola sepak yang berlaku pada pertengahan tahun 1990-an."

"Berdasarkan pengalaman daripada skandal tersebut, kalau ada satu atau dua pasukan yang terlibat dalam rasuah, ada banyak lagi pasukan yang terlibat."

"Rasuah dalam sukan ini tidak mungkin hanya melibatkan dua pasukan sahaja."

Bangga betul beliau dapat menjadi hero dalam usaha "menyelamatkan" maruah bola sepak negara. Betul ke beliau orang pertama yang membuat laporan dulu? Kalau betul, baguslah. Tapi, selepas membuat laporan, apa tindakan yang beliau ambil bagi memastikan perkara sama tidak berulang?

Timbalan Perdana Menteri

Tindakan segelintir pemain bola sepak yang mengamalkan rasuah dalam sukan itu dianggap tidak mempunyai semangat patriotisme.

Sambil memandang serius gejala itu, Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak menegaskan, amalan rasuah yang dilakukan oleh pemain terbabit akan menyebabkan usaha kerajaan untuk membangunkan mutu bola sepak negara terjejas.

"Ini sesuatu yang mencemarkan sukan bola sepak negara dan perbuatan ini menjejaskan integriti permainan itu sendiri."

"Hasrat kita untuk memajukan bola sepak tidak akan tercapai jika wujudnya gejala rasuah dalam sukan ini," katanya.

Amat senang bagi seoang TPM untuk melabel seseorang itu sebagai seorang yang tidak membunyai semangat patriorisme. Ingin saya tanyakan di sini dari sudut apakah beliau mengatakan mereka ini tidak bersemangat patriorisme? Adakah kera amereka ini pemain bola sepak ataupun kerana mereka mengamalkan rasuah? Tidak mungkin semata-mata mereka pemain bola sepak, mereka ini tidak bersemangat patrioriseme. Jadi saya percaya kenyataan yang dibuat oleh TPM adalah kerana mereka ini mengamalkan rasuah.

Jika dilebarkan jaringnya, maka boleh saya simpulkan bahawa bagi TPM, semua orang yang mengamalkan rasuah tidak bersemangat patriotrisme.

Persoalannya, tidakkah membayar pengundi untuk balik kampong mengundi dengan mengharapkan mereka ini mengundi BN adalah satu amalan rasuah? Jawapannya juga jelas di depan mata. Oleh itu, bolehlah saya simpulkan di sini yang kebanyakkan ahli politik dalam BN juga tidak mempunyai semangat patriorisme.

Cuma satu yang saya harapkan. Jangan dijadikan isu rasuah sebagai punca kemerosotan mutu bola sepak Negara.