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But the point is: what is being done about it? The recent UMNO Baru elections was mired in accusations of vote buying, and widespread use of corrupt funds. Several candidates, including those from the outgoing Supreme Council, were banned from contest because of allegations of money politics. But no further action is taken against them. They have been punished enough, we are told. But it is a far cry from actions in 1969, when the ACA, then led by Mr Harun Hashim, later judge of the Federal Court and Tan Sri, found two mentris besar -- from Perak and Trengganu -- to have been living beyond their means, and forced to resign.
That provision remains in the books. If there is any desire to reduce corruption, that provision should be enforced. I know of members of government who have cars -- I know of one who has at least seven costing more than a total of a million ringgit -- that their earnings could not justify. Dato' Seri Anwar has said one candidate for UMNO Baru Youth leader is under investigation after gold credit cards were issued to people not qualified for them and traced to him. There is some coyness about revealing names, but the man at the centre of the storm is the new leader himself, Dato' Zaid Hamidi. A reporter recently asked him categorically if he was involved, and that was the only answer he hedged.
But Dato' Seri Anwar missed the point as well. When huge contracts are given, often, to companies with a paid-up capital of RM2, the element of corruption must necessarily be there. Where there is much money to be made, much money, in the nature of things, must be spread around. Several chaebol (conglomerate) leaders in South Korea are finding this the painful way, from their prison cells. In India, the former prime minister, Mr P.V. Narasimha Rao, faces charges in court. That culture has spread through to Malaysia. This few can deny.
