YOURSAY | Not just 'bad apples', the whole orchard is infested

YOURSAY | 'We need to eradicate pests at the top of enforcement agencies.'

'Bad apples' in enforcement agencies need to be thrown away

MS: "Bad apples" serves to trivialise and minimise what is actually a systemic condition.

It is not the lack of training or discipline or standard operating procedures (SOPs) that is the problem. And it is not the insufficiency of religious indoctrination.

It is the totally corrupt environment which has been cleansed of all other influences other than the ‘ketuanan’, which serve to protect the crooked and reinforce their deplorable conduct.

It is an environment which rationalises and condones the political shenanigans and rot at the top of the heap. It is one which has eliminated all forms of critical self-awareness and independent thought while promoting group thinking grounded in feudal subservience.

It is the same "buat bodoh" (play dumb) culture which was demonstrated by everyone who knew about the blatant thieving going on during the 1MDB caper and simply looked away.

And it is one which has equated power with privilege - the right to do what one likes - rather than demonstrate responsibility towards and empathy for those they are contracted to serve.

It has been scrubbed clean of all universal values which once characterised the uniformed services and replaced by the toxic ones. So, nothing will change or can change, because the rot is simply systemic.

Ace: Our situation is not a case of "a few bad apples" anymore. The entire orchard is infested with pests, which makes almost all the apples rotten. Only a few are not attacked and still good.

We need to eradicate the pests which are the corrupt top politicians, as well as the lackadaisical attitude towards wrongdoings if they are committed by those in the “right camp”.

Quite a simple problem to solve: 1) Set up the Independent Police Complaints of Misconduct Commission (IPCMC), and 2) all wrongdoers must be punished - no such thing as a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA).

If an allegedly corrupt politician is not charged or charged but "set free" halfway, it gives the idea that corruption and wrongdoings can be taken lightly.

But is there even the will to do something to clean up the mess?

Business First: When corruption and abuse are done at the top, of course it will flood down the ranks.

The powers-that-be can continue to lie to the village folks how doing this is about defending race and religion, but the reaction of the international markets, as evidenced by Fitch's downgrade of Malaysia's sovereign risk, and now Credit Suisse's damning report shows that the rest of the world is not fooled.

History has shown that in times of hardship and financial stress, a country that has been corrupted can go one of two ways.

One is for real structural change to happen and the corrupt elements are removed. This will cause hardship to increase for a time, but the country will turn a corner and then develop into modern, prosperous society (see Eastern Europe after the fall of communism).

The alternative is, as the pie gets smaller, the corrupt find ways and means to maintain their lifestyle and need more and more money to "enforce" the situation. This causes even greater misallocation of resources and good foreign investments will leave.

We then attract bad investments (in that it exploits the country’s natural resources and devastates the land affecting the locals who live on the land) or no new foreign investments.

This makes the situation worse as there is even less money to feast on for the corrupt. So, like a downward spiral, they take money from areas that are needed to develop the country.

Look at the evidence. Which direction is Malaysia going in? People are using their retirement funds to survive. There are mysterious, unknown allocations for projects while spending n health and education, et cetera, decline during a pandemic.

Corruption is not the cause of Malaysia's problem, it is a manifestation of a deeper cancer.

Headhunter: We all know the whole political system is rotten to the core. Civil servants are only following the example of their political masters. Corruption in the country is from the top down. This is not something new but has been fully entrenched not long after the first PM was dislodged.

The implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP) exacerbated the problem until it became endemic, tolerated and an entitlement. The big ones are the "negotiated" tender, where the top echelon of the government is having a field day.

That's why our politics are so messy because it is all about fighting for the spoils for themselves. All the talks about being religious and caring for the welfare of the rakyat are just a deception to distract from the real issue - stealing from the rakyat.

Mario T: It’s not only the enforcement agencies, the entire civil service needs a complete cleanup. The top is seen to be inefficient and lethargic in carrying out their duties.

The civil service as before must have a Malaysian identity and not entirely a Malay identity. Proper enforcement and monitoring must be conducted regularly to prevent corruption and misconduct. The code of conduct in the civil service is seen to be made a mockery of at present.

Recruitment and promotions must be made on merits. Constructive criticisms must be taken into account for improvements and not to be viewed as vindictive.

GrayFish5723: It's high time the racial composition in these agencies reflects a true Malaysian mix. Not just filled to the brim with one particular race. This will allow for a better check and balance in the system.

Cultural practices of the many different races, coupled with a healthy competition to excel, will bring out the best in anyone. Emphasis on religion alone is a failure, which we will never acknowledge.

VS: Who said retraining will solve the problem? The present batch is contaminated and has to be sacked as an eye-opener for the civil service. In my opinion, fear is the only solution if we are to eradicate corruption.

You have to bring in a new batch of enforcement team as the present one has already been compromised.

You cannot teach honesty, sincerity, integrity and pride in their work if your enforcement team has no such personal values. You cannot teach these values as it is something bred from within or a part of your culture.

It was reported recently a lorry driver carrying onions was stopped at a police roadblock and was instructed to offload two bags for the police officers as bribes. What can you do to such police officers in the force?

RedCamel6860: One element that everyone is afraid to talk about is the gangster attitude that creates fear among the people. Malaysians are fearful to report and become a witness because those who are supposed to protect us act like gangsters.

Improve the police force by doubling up everything – number of members, salary as well as punishment if they are found to have broken the law themselves.

Raise the recruiting standard and qualification, the police profession should be highly respected and a sought-after career.

Police involved in corruption should be punished severely and quickly. Gangsters, criminals and politicians too must be fearful of the police.

Quietly Staying At Home: @RedCamel6860, true, whistleblower protection is low and creates a chicken-and-egg situation. I have friends who are contractors and complain about having to pay bribes.

When asked to report to police or MACC, they are worried about intimidation. But if there's no report then how to act? It is sad.

Just A Malaysian: The fish rots from the head. Leaders in all government institutions must lead by example and exhibit loyalty towards the job and the nation. It has to start from the top.

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