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Corruption destroys Nation Building

Corruption destroys Nation Building

by Sam Ang and Eugene Yapp

Recently, The Malaysian Insider reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will set up a special operations division to handle high-profile cases to counter allegations that the anti-graft body is lenient when probing powerful and influential politicians.

What comes to mind when you receive such news? Political patronage? Corruption? Who cares? One can become indifferent and say this is not our fight. If this crossed your mind, could it be that churches have rarely addressed such matters and say nothing of how Christians should handle and confront such maladies?

It appears as though the Christian faith has nothing to say about the ills and destructive forces of corruption.

But is this the case? No, for the issue and malady of corruption is as much pertinent to Christians as is the issue of conversion and discipleship.

As Christians, we believe that irrespective of one's stature and wealth and how powerful or politically influential he/she is, our God searches the hearts of all men and we stand as equals on Judgment Day. Every act of unrighteousness and injustice will be revealed on that day, and nothing will escape His eyes.

Let's examine three characteristics of corruption and its consequences and how Christians may respond to them.

 

1. Corruption Turns Every Social Institution Upside Down

C. S. Lewis in Reflections on the Psalms had this to say, "In most places and times, it has been very difficult for the 'small man' to get his case heard. The judge (and, doubtless one or two of his underlings) has to be bribed. If you can't afford to 'oil his palm' your case will never be heard."

A devout Indian evangelical leader once shared he would neither take nor give a bribe for his personal convenience. However, he said, "I run an orphanage. My children cannot get water unless I bribe. For their sake, I have no other option".

This real-life experience depicts how corruption utterly destroys the very institutions that are meant for the public welfare of a nation. On the home front, we have politicians-bureaucrats making public overtures before a by-election that should the constituency vote for the ruling coalition, they will get a bridge or a mosque! Here, we ask the question, "Isn't this an inducement and hence, blatant corruption?"

In the administration of a nation, development projects, whether big or small, can be viewed as work provisions provided under the national budget for building the nation. Such national development projects must always be a national agenda and priority.

However, due to our so-called privatisation policy, public functions and assets management have now been moved into private hands. They are no longer within the bounds of public institutions designed to cater to the needs of the many. This has opened the doors for basic needs in development, such as building bridges and toilets, to be used as "voting tools" for political expediency and leverage, thereby contributing to corruption.

The above illustrates how corruption utterly destroys the fabric of core institutions of society. The institution of society is for the protection of individuals and welfare of citizens of a nation. In protecting citizens, institutions are to cater to justice. But corruption has turned every institution from servants of society promoting fair distribution to tyrannical masters hoarding over every resource. Corrupt societies can never flourish for they do not produce the sort of values and practices so essential for a free liberal democratic society.

 

2. Corruption Undermines the Value of Work and Individual Dignity

Meritocracy enables healthy competition. Its value lies in promoting excellence because it places competence above 'connections'. It implies righteousness for righteousness recognises the due diligence and hard work for which one strives to achieve. But when 'connection' rises above meritocracy, it becomes a situation of whom you know rather than what you know to earn your place and respect in society. This degrades human dignity and worth. It is also grossly unfair and unjust to those who have put in great efforts to learn what they know and how to effect what they know effectively. These are the men and women who value merits and find personal fulfillment in putting premium on such values and thereby contributing to nation building.

Unfortunately, through the auspices of our so-called privatisation initiatives, 'connections' have tended to rise above meritocracy. The transfer of public functions and assets management into the hands of private individuals or corporations has resulted in the 'piratisation of public goods'.

 
"…corruption has turned every institution from servants of society promoting fair distribution to tyrannical masters hoarding over every resource."

This is obvious when privatisation projects land in the hands of the select elite who more often than not, comprises members of the political order. Through 'connections', these projects or planning ideas eventually end up within certain economically- and financially-motivated individuals and corporations who would heap huge and unjust gains through unfair disadvantages.

When such corrupt practices are allowed to escalate and pervade into all aspects and sectors of society, those attempting to live by meritocracy will throw in the towel and subsequently join the bandwagon. It is a vicious cycle that needs to be broken.

If the corruption cycle is not broken, the nation will only have incompetent people - mediocre men and women at best, and dishonest men and women at worst - as leaders, educators and administrators.

Our nation is therefore in critical need of transformation, for our future is at stake!

 

3. Corruption is an 'Anti-National' Activity and a Sin Against God

Corruption compromises our national integrity and well-being as well. Recently, it was reported that certain secrets of national interest were leaked to some foreign countries. Those who were responsible were severely warned.

Surveys have revealed that the level of corruption or the tolerance of it by society has a direct correlation with the level of economic well-being of the nation.

The World Bank estimates that corruption may cost a country as much as 4% the Gross Domestic Product. In the case of Malaysia, our Gross Domestic Product is estimated at RM650 billion. Based on the World Bank's estimate, our cost of corruption is therefore RM26 billion a year! And this is our taxpayers' money that could be put to good use, such as alleviating poverty and uplifting the standard of living!

Corruption compromises the integrity of a nation and the people who rule and manage it. It may be argued that in such instances, corruption will eventually destroy a nation and must be eradicated as it is threat to the national security of the federation.

 

How May Christians Respond?

What does the Bible have to say about corruption? Corruption violates at least two of the Ten Commandments - covetousness and stealing.

God says, "You shall not covet….anything that belongs to your neighbor" (Exodus 20:17); yet all corruption is rooted in covetousness. Corruption also violates the command, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:15); yet corruption is plundering that which does not belong to you. In short, corruption is 'anti-national' and constitutes a form of rebellion and idolatry against our great God.

As Christians, we know that sin is rebellion and disobedience against God. Corruption is therefore an offence against God, man, nature and is 'anti-nation'. It goes against the very fabric of responsibility that God has placed on all human beings as custodians and stewards of His creation.

When the 'Bride of Christ' (the Church) compromises with evil and begins to live in complicity with and compliance to corruption, it produces death.

The call to stand up against corruption is clear. It is a simple call to the Church to be true to Herself as the 'Bride of Christ', to bring forth fruits of righteousness and to give birth to a quality of holiness that is beyond the natural human ability.

The Church has the duty to educate and nurture her members to exercise their moral citizenry in a responsible manner in accordance with their faith and conscience in matters of justice and good governance.

To do so, the Church must never be spectators but active participants in imputing the values of truth, righteousness, integrity and good governance, both within and without the Church.

This is a tall order but let us become good examples as well as good models for society to emulate.

Let us also uphold those who are in advocacy for righteousness and good governance, fighting corruption in the very context and places they are in. Their lives will be models for the future generations that desire to be involved in Nation Building!

 


Note: The authors of this article are indebted to the thoughts by Vishal Mangaliwadi, Truth and Transformation: A Manifesto for Ailing Nations. Seattle, WA: YWAM Publishing, 2009 and K.J John, Corruption and Truth in Development at http://www.malaysiakini.com/columns/108937



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