KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia has now been included in a group of nations “renowned” for corruption, creating trust issues among the people in regard to the nation’s credibility, says Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz.
“People are worried that corruption is now becoming a trend in Malaysia and when it comes to business sector, corruption is the prime topic of discussion,” the former International Trade and Industry Minister wrote in Utusan Malaysia today.
Rafidah, who is dubbed the Iron Lady, said there was talk about “runners”, or an invisible hand, to grease palms.
Some quarters, the former Kuala Kangsar lawmaker said, were even alleging that certain “gatekeepers needed to be considered” when one wanted to deal with the authorities.
Trust issues, Rafidah added, would not only be among Malaysians, but also foreign organisations who wanted to do business here in Malaysia.
“Outsiders will always have doubts in their mind when it comes to Malaysia’s administration because they believe that everything will only run smoothly if they play along with the corruption game,” she wrote.
Rafidah explained that corruption was driven by personal desire of wanting more than they deserved, especially when there were loopholes in the process of decision making.
“There is no effective system of check and balance and even if there is any, these corrupted people will always try to find their way to get out of it. Hence, corruption comes into play.”
Rafidah was commenting on allegations that Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) Inc, the property investment subsidiary of Mara, was involved in corruption and money laundering with regards to the Dudley International House investment and several other assets in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Mara Inc is currently being probed for corruption by Australian police following an expose by The Age that its high-ranking officials had spent millions of government funds to push up the price of a property that was built for A$19.1 million (RM66.2 million), more than the market value. - Therakyatpost
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