Commentary by Mustafa K. Anuar 

IT appears some members of our society have gone morally adrift, and are incapable of making a stand on what is wrong and what is right.

We are talking about a society plagued by human misconduct, namely financial malfeasance and corruption.

Corruption has become rampant over the years, so much so that this form of misconduct has been “normalised” to a large extent, through the support of certain people of vested interests and the acquiescence of others. 

The perception we get in contemporary Malaysia, particularly in the political arena, is that corruption is relatively less shameful and sinful if one were to indulge in, or even be caught for corruption.

Contrast this response to the anger or unhappiness vented by certain quarters especially in the Muslim community against the act of wearing bermudas, sleeveless blouses and mini-skirts, or attending a western musical gig.

It may not be easy to wrap your head around this vulgar contrast.

God forbid, we would also shudder at the thought of any attempt to redefine corruption from a religious perspective that would make the hideous act of giving and receiving bribes permissible. For the simple reason that no religion condones corruption.

To reiterate, corruption is despicable. Millions of ringgit have been plundered from our national coffers, depriving our poor and marginalised Malaysians of socio-economic development that would have made a big difference to their collective lives. 

That says a lot about our society. 

This is, of course, not to say that there are no individuals or groups that opposes the existence of this social scourge, but their concerns seem to have been drowned out by the brashness and recalcitrance of the corrupt.

That is why it is important for concerned Malaysians to lend support to the fight against corruption often exhorted by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. 

The court case of former prime minister Najib Razak reminds us of the varied responses as well as the indirect acceptance of some people towards white-collar crime, particularly corruption.

In the wake of the SRC International court case involving Najib, several lawyers and the Bar claimed there had been attempts to interfere with the judiciary. This is disconcerting as it would affect judicial independence as well as the doctrine of separation of powers among the judiciary, the executive and the legislative. 

These attempts were alleged to have revolved around the move to obtain a royal pardon for Najib. 

Former Bar presidents regarded these manoeuvres as an assault on the judiciary.

Perhaps more importantly, these endeavours also constitute an attack on the very core values of justice, honesty, integrity and morality.

Every effort must be made to ensure that our cherished values are not upended. This holy month is especially an important juncture where one ought to reflect on the important nexus between crime, sin and punishment. 

While the punishment for crimes, particularly corruption, may vary according to the severity and weight of the misdeeds, it shouldn’t differ based on the social status of the guilty. 

There should not be double standards in meting out punishment for the sake of justice, rule of law and democracy. 

Society will be on a slippery slope if its moral compass is left corrupted. – April 10, 2023.