The rot has to stop: Time to end the plunder of the gravy train
IT has been quite an exhilarating time keeping up with all the goings-on in the courts these days.
In recent times, the Malaysian courts have seen a surge in high-profile cases involving administrators, government agency directors, company executives, politicians and even former prime ministers. This phenomenon has been marked by a diverse group of individuals being summoned to courtrooms for a variety of offences, ranging from graft charges to allegations of bribery.
The most recent such case involved three former prime ministers, who were all accused of corruption, with one already serving a prison sentence and the others facing several corruption-related charges in court.
The country has been on the receiving end of significant economic losses due to corruption. According to reports, RM277 billion was lost between 2018 and 2023, with some projections claiming the total cost of corruption could reach RM4.5 trillion over 26 years, from 1997 to 2022. Transparency International Malaysia and the World Bank estimate that Malaysia has been losing approximately four percent of its GDP annually to corrupt practices since 2013, up from two percent in 2010.
Despite these challenges, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been proactive in tackling corruption. This year alone, the MACC has pursued a wide range of corruption, money laundering and criminal breach of trust cases involving various sectors, including the military, financial institutions, government-linked companies and corporate figures.
The government has also vowed to end the plunder of the nation's wealth, promising zero tolerance towards corruption and implementing actions against those involved, regardless of rank or political affiliation.
The question remains, however, as to whether these actions are sufficient to address the deeply-rooted issue of corruption. Malaysia, which possesses vast natural resources, a strategic location and a capable population, has struggled to keep pace with regional neighbours and has been unable to achieve economic growth on par with them.
The country's failure to capitalize on its resources has been attributed to corruption, which has become a major obstacle to progress. It is high time for the nation to confront this issue head-on and break free from the cycle of scandals, inquiries, committees and broken promises. The time has come to end the plunder and ensure a better future for all Malaysians.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
