Govt Corruption Silent Theft That Drains Public Funds

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Government corruption is not just about bribes exchanged in secrecy - it is an organised system of abuse that drains public funds and robs the rakyat of essential services.
While petty corruption is often exposed, the real theft happens behind closed doors, protected by those in power.
Bribery in traffic enforcement, illegal border crossings, and business licensing have become so common that the rakyat barely reacts anymore. But these small-scale transactions are only the surface of a deeper, more damaging system.
Public enforcement agencies - such as the Royal Malaysia Police, Immigration Department, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, and various local councils - have become breeding grounds for institutional abuse, where personal interests come before public duty.
ADSYet, the real crime happens in government procurement - where billions of ringgit are siphoned through a system designed to benefit insiders. Contracts worth millions are systematically manipulated to ensure the same individuals and their proxies repeatedly secure lucrative deals.
Politicians take the blame, but bureaucracy breeds real corruption. Many civil servants misuse their authority to grant contracts and manipulate procurement decisions. The question arises - how can an officer earning a fixed government salary amass wealth in the millions?
Rigged system masquerading as fair competition
Procurement corruption is particularly dangerous because it operates under the guise of legitimacy. On paper, the process appears fair - tenders are announced, companies submit bids, and evaluations take place. In reality, the results are predetermined long before the first bid is even placed.
The real power lies not with the chairperson or decision-makers in the meeting room, but with procurement officers, clerks, and insiders who have access to critical details before tenders are even discussed. These individuals leak confidential specifications, pricing criteria, and selection requirements to their proxies, giving them an unfair advantage in preparing their proposals.
By the time the tender is officially announced, these insider-backed companies have tailored their applications to match every requirement perfectly. During evaluations, they rank the highest—not because they are the best, but because they knew exactly what was needed before anyone else.
The competition is an illusion - honest businesses never had a chance.
For those involved, this scheme is flawlessly executed. It requires no direct bribery and no visible rule-breaking. On paper, everything appears clean - the winning company followed procedures, met qualifications, and scored the highest during evaluation.
But in truth, they had privileged access to information that others did not, turning what should be a competitive process into a controlled outcome.
The real cost of corruption
The consequences are severe. Contracts do not go to the most capable companies but to those with political and personal ties to government insiders.
This results in overpriced projects, substandard work, and unnecessary delays - a pattern the rakyat has witnessed in infrastructure projects, government supply contracts, and even national defence spending.
ADSThis corruption extends beyond procurement. In many government agencies, loyalty to internal networks outweighs merit, ethics, and accountability.
Over time, these corrupt networks become self-sustaining - protecting their own while shutting out scrutiny and competition. This is why corruption isn’t just about money - it’s about power.
When the same group dominates an institution for too long, accountability disappears, and wrongdoing becomes the norm. Without structural change, these systems will continue to operate in secrecy, unchallenged.
Why diversity matters
One of the greatest obstacles to eradicating corruption is the monopolisation of power within the civil service. When a single group dominates government institutions, accountability is weakened. Investigations into misconduct are handled internally, leading to cover-ups rather than consequences.
Whistleblowers are punished, not protected. Instead of being prosecuted, wrongdoers are quietly transferred to another department, where they continue their misconduct elsewhere.
The fear of diversity in the civil service is not about ethnicity - it is about power and control. Those who resist reform understand that a more inclusive, representative civil service would mean greater scrutiny, less internal protection, and fewer opportunities to manipulate the system.
This is why civil service reform must go beyond mere anti-corruption policies - it must address the structural imbalances that allow corruption to persist. A diverse civil service - one that reflects the full composition of the rakyat - would naturally introduce different perspectives, stronger oversight, and greater accountability.
For decades, civil servants have remained in the same agencies for entire careers, forming deep alliances that allow corruption to continue unchecked. This must end.
Mandatory job rotations must be enforced - no civil servant should remain in the same department for more than two to three years. This will disrupt corruption networks, eliminate protection schemes, and ensure fresh oversight in every department.
Accountability must come with consequences
Lip service about fighting corruption is no longer enough. The rakyat has heard empty promises from one administration after another. The unity government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has been given the rakyat’s trust to break this cycle. That trust must be repaid with action, not words.
Lifestyle audits must be mandatory for all civil servants handling procurement, licensing, and financial decisions. Any official whose wealth far exceeds their salary should automatically be investigated, with their assets frozen until they provide legitimate proof of income. Foreign bank accounts, offshore properties, and unexplained luxury goods must no longer be ignored.
Cronyism has allowed corruption to thrive for far too long. Even recruitment and promotions within the civil service are often plagued by favouritism. Family members and close friends are appointed to key positions, not because of their qualifications but because of who they know.
This entrenched system of cronyism creates an environment where accountability is nearly impossible - because everyone is protecting each other.
The rakyat are tired of seeing civil servants living in luxury while the country struggles. They are sick of the same politically connected companies winning contracts, while small businesses with genuine capabilities are shut out. They are fed up with officials manipulating laws for personal gain while public services deteriorate.
This government must be different - beyond minor policies, beyond empty promises. No more silent protections, no more backdoor deals, no more compromises.
An epidemic that must be stopped
Corruption has become so deeply embedded in government agencies that it is no longer seen as an isolated crime - it has turned into a nationwide epidemic. This is a crisis that threatens the very foundation of Malaysia’s governance.
Fighting corruption is not an easy task, nor can it be solved overnight. But it requires serious political will and strong enforcement.
The rakyat are not asking for favours - they are demanding justice. This administration has a defining opportunity to end the cycle of corruption that has destroyed public trust for decades.
The government must now choose between two paths. It can either continue to allow this culture of silent theft, or it can finally take real action to deliver the reform the rakyat voted for.
History has shown that corruption destroys nations. A country that allows corruption to flourish will eventually face economic decline, social instability, and political collapse. Malaysia cannot afford to go down that path.
The rakyat has placed their trust in this government. If that trust is betrayed, history will remember who stood by corruption - and who fought to end it.
That trust must not be betrayed. - Mkini
MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Bersatu and Federal Territories Perikatan Nasional secretary.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.

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