Hidden Hands in Sabah Whistleblower Incident?

A Turning Point

A few years ago, when studying at a university in the US, two of my contemporaries expressed unhappiness with some of my writings which claimed that the Malays were entirely to blame for the rampant corruption in the country.

A Disagreement

I held the view that the Malays, who mainly work in the government sector, were the ones guilty of corruption in the eyes of God and the nation. My friends, however, flatly rejected this, claiming that members of the Chinese community should bear the greater guilt for offering bribes in the form of women, money, property, and travel.

A Counterpoint

I countered by suggesting that such offers were made simply because the Malay administrators were demanding or expecting them. In my eyes, that would make the Malays still guilty of corruption. My friends disagreed, saying that, not having participated in any business dealings, I was unaware of the many instances of businessmen offering bribes to secure projects. We ended up agreeing to disagree as neither side could be convinced of the other’s point of view.

The Sabah Whistleblower Incident

The Sabah whistleblower incident, however, appears to be a turning point for me. I was aghast to see and hear the latest video released by the whistleblower admitting to giving money to politicians and also clearly asking for projects or licences to be awarded to him.

Questions Arise

So, is this the real business world? Is it true that to secure a project, you must offer bribes, and that when your plans do not pan out, you can use blackmail or threaten to report those who accept such bribes to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, or even engage in a trial by media, hoping to take advantage of the ignorance of the public at large?

Uncertainty

In the face of such admissions, why has action not already been taken against the whistleblower? Do I lack knowledge of what constitutes a crime and the role of the authorities? Am I missing something? Is there something bigger at play here?

Hidden Hands?

The whistleblower incident seems to have come at a most opportune time in Sabah, which is gearing up for an election. Are there hidden hands moving behind the scenes in a bid to win the election through a trial by media? The fact that an election has yet to be called makes the goings-on sound typically Malaysian, doesn’t it?

A Worry

And that is my absolute worry. We are not just at the mercy of evil politicians seeking to destroy our country. We may also be victims of attempts by unknown parties to sensationalise the “bad politician” narrative online and through social media for personal gain.

Conclusion

Yes, I am very much aware, having followed the Reformasi movement for 25 years, that we have a number of bad politicians. But that does not mean that all politicians and all political parties are bad and mired in corrupt practices. We must also look to see if there are individuals seeking to profit from the longstanding rivalry between political parties by playing one against the other.

FAQs

Q: Why do you think there may be hidden hands behind the Sabah whistleblower incident?
A: I believe that the timing of the incident, just before an election, suggests that there may be individuals or groups seeking to manipulate public opinion and gain an advantage in the election.

Q: Do you think all politicians are corrupt?
A: No, I do not think that all politicians are corrupt. While there are certainly some bad apples, there are also many dedicated public servants who are working hard to serve the people.

Q: What do you think is the biggest challenge facing Malaysia today?
A: I think that one of the biggest challenges facing Malaysia today is the erosion of trust in our institutions and the lack of accountability among those in power. We need to work to rebuild trust and ensure that those in power are held accountable for their actions.