KEDAH Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s claimed that non-Muslims are the majority of those detained for the offence of giving and taking bribes. He said the claim was true and based on facts.

However, it is unclear if he provided the source of his facts. 

In the wake of Sanusi’s claim, former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil has been reported to have disclosed that corruption involved individuals from all ethnic groups, with non-Malays commonly being the givers, and the Malays being takers.

Shamshun’s revelation calls for reflection and today, Friday, is an opportune time.

Friday is the most blessed day of the week for Muslims. This is based on several sayings (hadith) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

It is also a saying of the Prophet Muhammad – the most blessed of God’s creatures – that the curse of Allah will fall upon the briber and the bribed. (Sunan Ibn Majah 2313, Book 13, Hadith 6)

Prophet Muhammad’s admonition of “risywah” – the Arabic word for bribery – puts in context what corruption entails: a giver (al-rasyi) and a taker or recipient (al-murtasyi).

Both giver and taker invoke the curse of Allah and will be sin-binned in hell for a heinous act.

A Muslim should not be the giver nor the taker, under any circumstances. If a Muslim is not the giver, then he should not be the taker. He is forbidden to take it.

A Malay in Malaysia is a Muslim by definition, in none other than the Federal Constitution – article 160.

As a Muslim, a Malay should say no to corruption in the same way he says no to eating pork, drinking alcoholic drinks and gambling.

Today is the last Friday of the Islamic calendar year – the Hijri year.

On Wednesday, July 19, Muslims will celebrate Awal Muharram – the new Hijri year.

Isn’t it timely to vow to migrate from being common to being zero bribe takers and givers?

An early salam Maal Hijrah to all Muslims. – July 14, 2023.

* Hafiz Hassan 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.