The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) celebrates its 39th anniversary this year and as part of its celebration, the agency’s officers are going to religious institutions – mosques, churches, temples and others – to promote its work.
On Oct 12, a group of ACA officers were at the NECF Malaysia office to meet Klang Valley pastors and leaders. Led by its Federal Territory director, Chuah Chang Man, they shared about their work with the 100-strong audience.
The meeting was hosted by NECF but it was organised and sponsored by the agency, with ‘brunch’ thrown in.
In his talk, Chuah covered the definition and laws on bribery and corruption, and even quoted Bible verses relating to the two evils. What he shared was probably nothing new to the audience.
The interesting thing to note is that the ACA bothered to send its officers to NECF and other religious institutions to promote its work. That spoke something about what the agency is driving at, that is – the relation between God and corruption.
Perhaps if everyone knows and fears God, won’t we be more hesitant about giving and accepting bribes? Maybe, maybe not, but our relationship with God will surely have a great influence on our daily encounters with the authorities.
Likewise, if we have God-fearing leaders, they will, at least, think twice about using their positions to line their pockets.
I once encountered a “think-twice” policeman who stopped me for drving through the amber light. He cited my offence, asked for my driving licence and as he jotted my details on his notebook, he ranted at how “leceh (troublesome)” it was to pay the fine.
I begged for mercy, pointing to my two boys at the backseat who were going to be late for school. His reply to my “Tolonglah Encik” was that over-familiar phrase, “Tolong? Macam mana nak tolong? (How can I help?)”
Then, he said it: “Ha, kalau nak tolong, cepat (If you want help, quick)”. And he thumped his notebook impatiently.
Ha, I knew what that meant – put some red notes on the opened pages of the notebook, and I’d be off the hook. Instead, I said softly and humbly, “Tak bolehlah Encik. Takut Tuhan (Cannotlah Sir. Afraid of God.)”
“Takut! Takut apa? (Afraid! Afraid of what?)” he barked. I looked up to his face and pleaded, “Takut Tuhan. Encik tak takut Tuhan? (Afraid of God. Sir, you’re not afraid of God?)”
I will never forget the look on his face when he heard these words. He was stunned; his face turned a shade paler and I thought I saw fear flashing in his eyes. Then, he snapped shut his notebook and told me to go. As he marched back to his motorcycle, I thanked him profusely and zoomed off.
When the policeman stopped me, I was already prepared to pay the fine for my wrongdoing (though I’m still unsure if going through an amber light is wrong). But God was merciful to me in this case. And, I guess, He was also merciful to the policeman. Thankfully in this instance, he did not succumb to the lure of easy money because he takut Tuhan.
The temptation to give, accept and ask for bribes is a reality we battle daily, more so for those in authority. And so, as the ACA officers continue to discharge their duties, let us be prayerful for them, for ourselves and for our leaders.
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