For a long time, we have battled corruption in the country.
Corruption is seen as the stumbling block to greater nationhood.
Going by the countless cases that are being investigated or pending in never- ending court case and with new cases popping up di sana sini (all over the place), it appears we are not gaining ground in the battle against this cancer, which has spread deep in society.
Perhaps it is time to drop the label “corruption” and instead call it plain greed. Greed for power, greed for money, greed for unaccounted wealth – for greed is the root cause of corruption in the country.
Greed has weakened our national economic and social resilience. It has punctured deep holes in our political roadmaps. It has destroyed our education system and deprived so many people of a healthy, vibrant, stress-free life.
Greed is at the heart of the social decadence around us. It is this greed that is fuelling societal intolerance, and even planting extremism across the land.
We have reached rock bottom. Driven by greed, some remain undeterred in exploiting the three Rs – race, religion and royalty.
It is time to promote an abhorrence of greed in any form.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
We need to mould a culture that not only frowns on greed but names and shames greed in its many manifestations in our corruption-plagued nation.
Unless we have what it takes to expose greed, the war on corruption will remain a superficial dressing. It merely covers up the festering wounds that are so deeply embedded in the social psyche.
Fighting corruption calls for strong political will among government leaders. It is not enough just to make promises.
Also needed are the unrelenting voices of vociferous media that keep exposing greed in society. The will to combat corruption cannot be wrapped in make-belief religiosity or in a desire to be politically correct.
We need to tackle greed to win this war on corruption.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
You cannot help it, when greed is inherent in human nature, and there are so many opportunities to indulge in it. The point is that people must not be tempted in such practices.