In those days, anyone who tried to expose these corrupt politicians had to be ‘discouraged’. There were allegations of arrests, trumped-up charges, incarceration, threats, hush money, and physical harm.

Today, these allegedly corrupt politicians, their spouses, and their children probably claim unfair treatment for being investigated. The wife of former finance minister Daim Zainuddin said her husband was persecuted for his success.   

Others claim Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was exacting revenge on his former political rivals.

The rakyat really don’t care, as all they want is justice. Corruption has become a way of life. There is no respect for the rule of law. Values and morals have been abandoned.

For 50 years, the nation was sold a lie. The Malays held the top positions in government, the civil service, and the armed forces. They dictated policies and ran the wheels of government. But the Malays were also the country’s worst hypocrites.

They stole from the public. They were motivated by greed. Short-term thinking involved the three Ps, power, perks, and position.

They failed to think of the long-term consequences of their actions. They used the cloak of race and religion to further their evil aims.

The real traitors

Last week, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Indians and Chinese were not loyal citizens. Really?

Wasn’t it Malay leaders who stole taxpayers’ money, mismanaged the economy, and compromised Malay institutions like Tabung Haji, Mara, and Felda? If anyone is to be considered a traitor, then it is the thieving Malay leader(s) who betrayed the nation. 

The politicians enriched their family members but then had the audacity to claim their business skills were praiseworthy. The Chinese and DAP would be blamed for the poor financial standing of the Malays.

Incredibly, some Malaysians, including the privileged ones, have questioned the timing of these MACC investigations. They want to know why it took so long. They fear the destabilisation of the country. They claim it is too late to do anything.

Are they daft? If they need reminding, here are some comparisons.

Somewhere outside Sungei Siput, two boys help their mother place several buckets at strategic points on the floor to collect the rainwater pouring in through the holes in the ‘attap zinc’.

Home is a two-room shack for the six of them - mother, father, grandmother, and the boys’ older sister, who is disabled, as is her father. They get minimal help from the Welfare Department.

The family dread the wet weather. As a cleaner, the mother’s wage cannot cover the cost of a new roof and she has pawned off the last of her wedding jewellery to pay for essentials.

Benefits of being privileged

In contrast, some of us may have read about the luxurious properties in Beverly Hills, New York, and London, owned by the son of a former Malaysian PM.

At the same time, the former PM’s wife told the public that she could afford her huge collection of multi-million ringgit gems because she was prudent and started saving when she was a teenager. Or the two sons of a former minister, who were millionaires before they were 12.

Then, we read about politicians and their sons lodging appeals about their huge tax bills. Isn’t it strange that for the majority of the rakyat, the taxman will say, “Pay first, ask questions later.”

Over in Sarawak, a former chief minister reportedly said his children became rich because they are not stupid and possess good business acumen.

Nothing is said about how Malaysian politicians behave like the mafia. They allegedly use intimidation and violence to take over an ordinary Malaysian’s business, extort money, or force the legitimate businessperson to include the politician’s family members or the elite Malays to receive commission or be on their payroll.

These rich privileged Malay politicians have misled the nation. They said ordinary Malays were lazy, and yet they are the hypocrites who grew rich from the blood, sweat, and toil of the poor Malays and the non-Malays. So, who are the real traitors?

The day that members of the Malay elite lose everything is probably the day they will regain their humility, values, and self-respect.

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