Not all politicians are corrupt
Corruption will persist in Malaysia for as long as the people continue to feed the greed for such money. Shut the hungry mouths and get rid of the feeding hands. Unless we get rid of both, our mission to fight corruption will be futile.
By HANNAH YEOH/MySinchew
A few days ago I crossed path with two young girls from East Malaysia. I was sharing with them the change that took place on 8 March 2008 and how that change has not only altered politics in Peninsular Malaysia but it has also radically changed my life. It is wonderful to see how receptive and excited they were about the prospect of that change making its round in Sarawak and Sabah come the next general election.
These two young girls shared with me how corruption is rampant in the long houses they live in during elections. Certain politicians would come and offer money in return for votes. I encouraged both of them to hold fast to integrity and the conviction they both share about fighting corruption.
Righteousness exalts a nation. We need to start with the young. We need to teach them about the consequences of corruption and its costs to the nation.
We, the adults usually remember very well the lessons we learned when we were children. As such, whenever the opportunity arises for me to speak to children, I would address the issue of corruption, hoping that they would remember it when they grow up.
Parents must not underestimate the lessons they teach their kids when they're young. I learned a painful lesson from my dad when I was seven. When I was in Standard One, my classmate used to give my sister and I some of her daily allowance (about fifty cents everyday). Those days, fifty cents could buy me lots of junk food in school. When her mom found out, she reported this to my teacher (who was my neighbour) who then reported this to my dad.
When my dad heard this, my sister and I were called to face his wrath! I still remember what he said to me when he made us kneel before him in our living hall. He took out a ruler and he said, "this is to teach you never to take anything that does not belong to you." That was the first and only time my father ever hit my hand (Note: I am not encouraging parents to hit their children).
That experience is still so vivid to me. He disciplined me and I knew my dad did that because he didn't want his children to steal from others though we were poor. That was the lesson I learned when I was seven and today at the age of 30, I still carry that lesson with me and that ladies and gentlemen is how my fight against corruption has its root from – never to take anything that does not belong to me and that means taxpayers' money! You can teach your children how to fight corruption, teach them good values while they're young so that when they grow up, they will not depart from them. The next time you are tempted to bribe your way through, think again – your children may be watching you and may follow your examples.
Some Malaysians like to condemn those who are guilty of receiving bribes and justify and defend those who offer bribes. Corruption often happens for convenience sake. People would offer bribes, often an amount lower than the legal summon to avoid them the hassle of going to the authorities to pay up. People would offer bribes for a shorter waiting time, for a faster approval or for keeping others quiet.
Corruption will persist in Malaysia for as long as the people continue to feed the greed for such money. Shut the hungry mouths and get rid of the feeding hands. Unless we get rid of both, our mission to fight corruption will be futile.
I have one single goal for my time in politics and that is to prove to our nation that not all politicians are corrupt and to bear witness that only righteousness can exalt Malaysia again. Happy Malaysia Day and to our friends in East Malaysia (just like what I shared to the two young girls mentioned at the start of my article): hang in there, the best is yet to come!
(HANNAH YEOH is state assemblywoman for Subang Jaya)
