There are TWO levels of corruption 1) general and 2) national

1) General corruption is where you need to pay under table money for everything and anything e.g., to apply for an ID card, buying a house, getting from one region to another. This exists in many countries. This is a practice that is generally accepted by everyone as a way of life (more or less) and they all know the going rate.

The chaps further cited China as an example where about 6-10 years ago you need to pay for everything. This type of corruption can be wiped out by political will and also by clamping down on the ‘leaders’ and others will follow (under fear). Some people say that in Vietnam, the fear is so severe that this is the whole reason why their systems is now efficient. It is so efficient that Vietnam is becoming a leader in agriculture with other sectors e.g. industry following.

How about us here in Malaysia? It used to be that in the old days Policeman were looked at with integrity and trust. But it is now sad to say, the police is looked down upon and most people would think that they are ALL on the take. I would just like to add at the juncture that I have found that the cops do NOT behave this way. I have heard f bad cops and also stupid people who willing break the law only to pay their way through trouble. There are actually people out there who do not have a license to drive and bribe their way at every road block.

Warning there are some cops who do not receive bribes and you will get into serious trouble for bribing a policeman.

2) National corruption is defined as corrupt practices in the government from the members of parliament to ministers and people in authority.

Do not ask me where the division is for general corruption to end and national corruption begins. The Chinese have figured this out.

It is said that national corruption is very hard to contain and stop. History has shown that it can only be stopped by the shedding of blood. It can only be stopped by people sacrificing themselves for the ideologies and beliefs that they have – whether they incubate, excruciate or express in any form or manner. It was discussed that many of these people are willing to die for a cause and belief and these ones are not born that way, rather they are made. They have gone through a process of developing from one level of belief to another.

I remembered back in the 80s when it was shocking to hear of a suicide bomber! Never would one though this would be something that sane humans would do. But alas, whenever I turn on CNN or BBC, the news line below the screen would report of this happening – almost on a daily basis.

So on the ground here in Malaysia, the man on the street believes that the current government at both federal and state levels have ‘a degree’ of corruption. It is the opinion of some that there is a high degree of corruption. So high that big issues are not perceived to be big anymore. This is in relation the case of a video clip of a known lawyer speaking to someone about the appointment of judges and court officials. So the judiciary is NOT independent? Someone pinch me and wake me up.. oh, don’t bother we’re in a limited democracy.

There are some who know of corrupt practices but cannot bring them up because they lack evidence. Just how much evidence does the ACA need to nail someone is a matter of coffee shop chat.

In our last state elections in Sarawak, the man in the street expressed their disapproval of corruption in the government (and 5 other issues) at the polls. But the sad thing was that the candidates who lost their seats were to many clean and very good and useful people. They bore the grudge of the locals.

Just after the elections, I brought up the issue of the electorate’s displeasure with a government backbencher and the reply reflected their mental attitude by saying “the people are only displease in the cities, but in the rural areas they are all fine.” I cannot say anything about this.

A bulk of the local populace have seen how Malaysia has regressed. From being a sports powerhouse in the 80s to nothing now. From a prosperous nation then to seeing more and more constrains in the local economy. Although the quality of life has moved with the times, a lot of Malaysians believe that the division between the rich and the not so rich is widening. The ratio of income to expenses e.g., house and car does not seemed balanced. Has politics anything to do with it? Certainly, politics has everything to do with it? So what the heck is politics?.. ..

hey, what happening? just what in the heck is the US coming to? growing up, we have often looked to US as a country with all the right stuff and they were in the best position to help others. my dad was trained in the US – green berets, washington police academy, anti-guerrilla warfare. perhaps at that time we were clouded but we started to make friends with some of the best people in the world. i also have real good American friends. when i visit the US and hang out with these folks, i never felt like i was an outsider- a brown bornean native in a white man’s land..

BUT what in the heck has happened? what do i mean? it’s like what was said during the australian alumni assoc 1st meeting – the future of the world is summed up as ‘getting better and better, worse and worse, faster and faster..’

for starters a country with a love all and serve all policy actually has discrimination in all levels – trade policies, environmental policies, etc. just today in Bali, the US refuse to sign to commit to the koyoto protocol! now the EU wants to boycott the US sponsored meeting in hawaii next month.

then there’s sport.. marion jones, barry bonds, floyd landis and the list never seemed to end. now baseball looks to be hitting the fence. as an avid sport person it just saddens me to think that the millions of people, fans (young and old alike) look up to these heroes only to have the rug pulled from under their feet.

human rights? funny which country has the largest number of people on death row, highest number of executions, a strange judicial system?

politics – why does it seem like the most crooked people get to the top and why do the masses follow him/them?

i don’t know what’s right and wrong anymore.. but are we living in the rest of the world any different? are we? malaysia is not perfect and it not easy to make a call about the recent demonstrations and detentions for the mere fact that we do not know enough – only what we hear and read – which can be tainted and twisted.

freedom? whoa.. that’s a big word.. in some places, people are free to do what they want and often at the expense of others. so, it that freedom. we were subjected to a lot of ‘wrong thinking’ in our formative years. john wayne was the good guy, fighting off savage red indians who scalp and killed at the ‘slightest provocation’. thanks giving is not a very thankful thing to do when i read the stories behind it.

ok, i could mumble on and on like a mid point in a tom clancy novel. the world needs some prime examples to follow, values, moral values, ethics, etc. is nowadays so hard to find. what do we do? i think we really need to be more inside looking and treat each other with respect. oh ya! when was the last time respect was around? i have not seen respect for a while. so how? best to produce your own respect.