Corruption will sink us all - Malaysiakini

Once upon a time, many Malaysians believed that corruption was a necessary lubricant for development.

Our leaders knew that if we maintained all the regulations that we inherited from the British, growth would be slow.

We would not be able to increase the material wealth of our people fast enough and this would mean losing votes.

So many closed a blind eye, others just looked the other way. Corruption became part of life.

Today, after more than five decades of independent rule, our problem is not so much that there is too little growth but that we have paid too little attention to our own well-being.


It is therefore heartening to know that there are some young leaders who are slowly but surely focusing on two issues that will be integral to Malaysia's future going forward as one of the most developed nations in Southeast Asia.

These issues are equatability and the environment. In Penang, a lot of effort is now underway to convince developers and house buyers that there need to be more affordable housing. This is not
social housing but properties that many young people can afford.

Of course, this task is very difficult. But hopefully, the current economic meltdown owing to
excessive greed has taught banks and the business community about the real value of business: good relationship with one's customers.

Tanjong Tokong ruffled feathers

This writer's commentary on Tanjong Tokong ruffled many feathers.

Yet, I maintain my stand that there needs to be a balance between development and the protection of our living
environment; whether that includes clean air or cultural identity.

Heritage ultimately means we are fighting to preserve or protect something not for ourselves but for future generations. This also applies to the right to affordable housing.

In a highly urbanised state like Penang, competition for land is very intense.

It might be that in the not too distant future, we may all have to live in high-rise buildings.

Definitely, most below the age of 40 can only afford apartments hence the call for responsible development in the mentioned article.

The other important issue is the environment. With global warming now an undeniable scientific fact, we may have to get ready to alter the way we live.

Storms will get worse and there will be more flooding. Thus responsible development must also include considerations for thebenvironment.

Whether we like it or not, both equatability and environmental issues are going to be the future big issues in the political arena.

Basically, in a global economic environment that is now even more challenging, Malaysia can no longer afford all the terrible waste of resources through corruption.

Old ways coming to an end

And corruption is the cancer that is making the income gap wider and resulting in massive environmental disasters.

It is good that once again Penang is leading the way in our country's fight against corruption.

Transparency International singled out Penang for a special mention. Detractors of the Penang state government will say that nothing has changed, that the current chief minister only talks about being transparent but does not walk the talk.

The former chief minister even pointed out the Kg Buah Pala case as an example of Lim Guan Eng's lack of transparency.

The reality that there is so much debate surrounding the various development projects in Penang that there has been frank and open discussions with the respective stakeholders, some of whom
openly attack the state government.

All this is evidence of a more transparent administration.

Of course, more can be done but here is a case of the gods are willing but the priests are not.

Malaysians must remember that the rapid material development that we have experienced in the last three decades have been predicated on a 'hands-off' and non-interference ideology.

Foreign investors prefer a working environment that can give them high returns without minimum fuss.

We gave them extra-territoriality through the free trade zones, a malleable and fairly educated workforce, most of whom are not allowed to be part of any union, so wages could
be kept low.

But now, we cannot compete with production centres in India, China and Vietnam where the costs are very low.

This mantra has been repeated a thousand times and if need be, it must be repeated a thousand times more.

The old ways of doing things are now coming to a close.

Without fear or favour

Malaysia needs to be collectively more efficient to attract FDI and retain whatever we have now.

That means we must have low tolerance of corruption, which is robbing future generations of the opportunities that we've had.

The foreign investor of the future wants to be able to tell their customers that the products they buy are not the results of forests being indiscriminately cut.

In short, as we move up the value chain, we need to add value to the things we produce.

This new type of production requires more professionals and they want to be part of a socially-responsible society.

Penang used to have an old motto, much forgotten and sometimes recalled with shame. 'Penang Leads' must now be the clarion call for Malaysia, to be really a developed country, a high-
income economy and a more equitable society.

Malaysia needs to combat corruption without fear or favour.