http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/187437
Then, while I was with Mimos Berhad, my colleague and friend, Rinalia Abdul Rahim, offered to introduce me to Abdullah Ahmad or better known as Abdullah Kok Lanas (right).
Two very senior public servants; Mahmood Adam (right in photo) and Mohamed Thajudeen, are quoted with clear and unequivocal statements about how they are going to address these issues. They ,too, made a public stand on the issue of bribery and corruption.
But, we may have lost that privilege because we had already falsely arrested Dr Irene Fernandez (left) when she asserted this same issue of systemic bribery and corruption with human trafficking across borders, in her book on the subject.
I first started my writing career with a letter to the editor of the Malay Mail. It was for the sports page wherein I made a suggestion for the setting up of more Royal Military Colleges (my alma mater RMC) so that we can produce global champions in sports; people like today’s Nicole David. They even paid me a prize of RM50 for the sports letter. I was 18.
Then over the years I always wrote letters to the New Straits Times (NST) if I had any issue of grave or serious concern as a citizen. They usually published my views as letters to the editor.
Sometime after my posting to the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) as a policy researcher, my good friend and Royal Military College mate, Dr KS Jomo, challenged me to write and express my views more publicly, as that was one way to help develop and improve thinking in this nation.
I followed his advice and wrote even more. Those days, my letters to the editor of theNST, under Kadir Jasin’s watch, had a ‘hit rate’ of about 90 percent, with almost zero editing for content.
Then, while I was with Mimos Berhad, my colleague and friend, Rinalia Abdul Rahim, offered to introduce me to Abdullah Ahmad or better known as Abdullah Kok Lanas (right).He requested and invited me to write a column. I agreed but with four conditions. His reply: Not even then Justice Harun Hashim made those conditions. My reply: I am not a judge; only a public servant.
One year later, at Mustapa Mohamed’s Hari Raya Open house, we met again and Abdullah Kok Lanas asked why was I not writing for him. I reminded him of my conditions, and his reply: I will agree with a simple handshake, just start writing. I did then have a column with the NST.
Much later, when I was at a Deepavali Open House, I met Vijayan Menon of NST and we had an open discourse about the then ailments at the NST and why I stopped writing after Abdullah Kok Lanas left. My argument then was that NST had lost editorial thought leadership.
NST lead stories were simply “someone else’s stories, not their own!” They lost thought leadership over the content of issues driving or failing Malaysia.
Now, in 2012, NST seems to have found some moral courage of the thought leadership variety. They captured first-hand accounts about bribery and corruption in Malaysia.
More importantly, the newspaper had an expose that embarrassed the government of Malaysia; concerning many border security-related agencies. And their headline read: “Rooting out bad apples.”
In reflection and to quote Zunar, “even my pen has a stand!” To me, it looked like even theNST now has a stand. It takes moral courage to take on corruption related issues, because it usually shakes foundations.
Dramatic switch in policy
Most importantly, the NST does not even quote their Umno ministers but the public servants who can and will want to make the difference, if they are really serious about this agenda.
Two very senior public servants; Mahmood Adam (right in photo) and Mohamed Thajudeen, are quoted with clear and unequivocal statements about how they are going to address these issues. They ,too, made a public stand on the issue of bribery and corruption.To some of us, this appears to be what we used to call the “will, skill and strategy” approach when implementing the Performance Measurement Programme at Intan. Those were the days when Intan knew how to become the centre of an action agenda through serious and sincere change management programmes.
My ex-boss and change management teacher, Dr Mohd Shahari Ahmad Jabar, will be launching a personal account and story of that journey less travelled during his tenure as director of Intan.
If bribery and corruption, which is the No. 1 concern of informed citizens who are connected, committed and global in their thinking, become the key agenda of public servants (which includes the agencies like the Malaysian Aanti-Corruption Comission or MACC), their moral and political will can potentially have no limits or constraints.
In fact the chief secretary will form the caretaker government during the general election, when the current government stands down.
Therefore, my advice is if we are serious, please prepare your charge sheets and be serious enough to make them count.
That is in fact part and parcel of our British Parliamentary heritage. In Indian case history, even the then-PM, the late Indira Gandhi, was found guilty of using her helicopter for the explicit purpose of campaigning during their GE.
Therefore, it does not take too much imagination that the public servant-types who are professional public servants can choose to exercise their authority under existing laws to curb corruption and restrict the abuse of power. It is well within their legitimate rights and jurisdiction.
Therefore, Mr secretary-general of Home Affairs, while it is fine to form a committee to review the evidence and the claims against corruption, please be careful and know that theNST report is already the equivalent of a first report in law; and is almost tantamount to a whistleblower report even if published with evidence. What we need is a transparent and honest investigation of the truth of the mater.
To me, there is only a few real ways to deal with this issue. One is to pretend the problem has never existed but suddenly has reared its head.
But, we may have lost that privilege because we had already falsely arrested Dr Irene Fernandez (left) when she asserted this same issue of systemic bribery and corruption with human trafficking across borders, in her book on the subject. Consequently, her God-given dignity was already tested, tried and abused with pain and injury caused over this truth matter.
The only alternative, dear friends, is to set up your own domestic inquiry committee but made up of former public servants who have an impeccable public service record on this issue of bribery and corruption.
They are many who have left the service at the compulsory age or 56 or 58, and still very are absolutely honest on these issues of bribery and corruption. They can do a far more credible job because their fingers are not tainted and they have not colluded with the current already tainted system.
Most internal officers are at the very least guilty of “collusion by association”; because they did not report even any suspicions of such corruption.
Truth matters. Therefore, please do the needful before it is too late.
We do not need a royal commission of Inquiry (RCI) or the Port Klang Free Zone-type court case or even Cowgate-type whistleblowing because by then it is already too late and the crooks have left the scene of the crime.
Opportunity to leave a positive legacy
Dear chief secretary, this is your opportunity to shine and leave a positive legacy of Bersih, Cekap dan Amanah; which the past governments have aspired for but never really found the political will to make happen. Therefore, please find the will, skill and strategy to discover the truth of this matter. You can!
Public services corruption thrives today primarily because of the “fear to say ‘NO’ to the politicians!” Therefore the greatest challenge is to do the right thing, to do it the right way, and to do it with the right attitude. Identifying individuals with the right will, skill and strategy becomes a truth matter.
Truths about bribery and corruption matter to all citizens; and many of us will be voting in this GE based on this singular issue; whether it is in BN states or in Pakatan states. On bribery and corruption alone I say ABU or Anything But Umno.
We have organised a National Congress on Integrity since 2005 on the theme of ABC or Against Bribery and Corruption. All Malaysians want ABC4Malaysia or a campaign against bribery and corruption by all Malaysians. We will make it count in this GE and please watch our lips for the cue. May God bless our public services to speak the truth now and forever.
KJ JOHN was in public service for 29 years. The views expressed here are his personal views and not those of any institution he is involved with. Write to him atkjjohn@ohmsi.net with any feedback or views.
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