THE Report on the Federal Government’s Financial Statement (RFGFS) for 2019 released in Parliament in October last year revealed that RM622 million has been poorly managed, leaked or resulted in losses for the public by the government.

Out of this, RM499.18 million was “disorganised” payments made towards the National Security Council and trunk radio network project overseen by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

The above revelation was not surprising as the same types of “poorly managed, leaked or resulted in losses”, albeit a different sum, have appeared in the yearly RFGFS, and the public appears to have grown accustomed and weary of reading of such acts of irresponsible public financial management by politicians and the civil service.

There have been many regulations on supervision of the nation’s coffers and analyses on that problem, but affect nothing in stopping the corruption so far.

Despite all the anti-corruption moves, people still do not hesitate to offer or accept bribes.

The bribers are becoming innovative. They adapt to the situation and the innovation of companies in paying bribes and hiding them is also visible.

A great influence comes also from the ineffective sanctioning of corruption, which only increases the possibility of continuing the actions of those involved, creating at the same time a strong likelihood that others will join in due to this inefficient sanctioning.

Politicians, ruling and the opposition, powerful and contending clans, and networks of elites, all have a shared stake in corruption and have used “state power” to intrude into the economy in the states they governed with impunity.

They have no mercy. They steal our salaries and livelihood while the rakyat have not seen a single politician sacrifice a salary. They are not only stealing; they are stealing shamelessly. It has got to a point where they are literally the cause of the country’s cancer.

Every day, private firms spend vast amounts of money attempting to convince legislators to grant monopolies or restrict competition so that some industry or individual can realise a rent and people in authority are

constantly manoeuvring to position themselves in a minor monopoly where they can be bribed for issuing a licence, approving an expenditure or allowing a shipment across a border.

Through various exposes by the social and mainstream media, we have seen how high-ranking public officials or politicians who influence policies and rules give businesses unfettered access to natural resources or help pass laws or regulations that are in the interest of those who are willing to pay.

Corruption has now reached a stage in the country where even those compelled to participate in corrupt systems in order to survive are fed up with the role that corruption plays in their daily lives.

Corruption benefits the “haves” at the expense of the “have-nots”, the consequences are disproportionately borne by the poor who have no resources to compete with those able and willing to pay bribes.

In the end, corruption tightens the shackles on those that can least afford it, leading to the growing economic and social inequalities.

In the current mix of electoral politics and power sharing arrangements in a “peace accord” between the ruling parties and the opposition, each faction asserts control over its own territorial or institutional turf, leading to different sets of rules and authorities further undermining accountability.

Individuals in these positions may reward their own political parties and support networks rather than distribute the resources of the state in an impartial manner. For example, those who have perpetrated a conflict are awarded with top positions.

Even though there has been an institutional approach to fighting corruption, this alone cannot make a dent. It is important, but not enough. Civic organisations, neighbourhood groups and community networks all have to become involved.

Thus, if we hope to see progress in fighting corruption, the rakyat has to be involved. Corruption is a multidirectional process.

On one hand, the provider benefits and on the other, the recipient, and both are aware of the deed that remains hidden. The third link in the chain is everyone else, the rakyat.

Unless someone could take a page out of the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s book and imprison all our thieves, as he did with his men at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh, the only solution for the country is for the rakyat to make a difference.

Would an increase in the number of women on the labour market and in politics help fight corruption?

An influential study of 150 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia by the World Bank titled “The Time is Now: Addressing the Gender Dimensions of Corruption” concluded that women are more reliable and less prone to corruption than men.

The findings of the research support the thesis that women are less susceptible to corruption than men, especially in cultures that require men to be ambitious, competitive and materially successful, as these factors significantly contribute to unethical behaviour.

Apparently, this was exemplified in Peru a decade ago where bribery was drastically reduced when the government decided to involve more women in the police units.

If the rakyat can, collectively, voice their needs for more women to be candidates in the next general election if the political parties are to secure their votes, it has the potential to force the parties to restrategise their candidates’ list for the next general election.

In 1996, the citizens in Turkey launched the “One Minute of Darkness for Constant Light Campaign” that managed to gather support from about 30 million people to take part in synchronised mass actions, like turning off lights and banging pots, successfully pressuring the government to take specific measures to combat systemic corruption.

The rakyat may not be able to control and monitor who accepts bribes but they can monitor and report who gives them.

The rakyat can form watchdog groups covering every housing estate, district and state to report on corruption involving officials happening in the area/sector under their watch.

Politicians may start speaking of the “hidden hand”, the “conspiracy against our sovereignty” if a large number of the rakyat were to do the above collectively. They are lying.

The hidden hand is actually just our dignity that woke up. The rakyat have been silent and sedated for so long; they have now awakened.

The politicians are not used to the rakyat having pride. And the rakyat will show them. – December 5, 2021.

* FLK reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.