The Arab world may have its Ali Baba and Forty Thieves, but in Malaysia, it's thieving "Ali Babas" and other thieves. "Open sesame" has a whole new meaning here as the country keeps discovering new instances of corruption.
Data tells us that corrupt public officials are few and far between, but reality doesn't bear this out.
Just on Thursday, a top local authority official was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission for receiving regular kickbacks—like he was on an "Ali Baba" monthly payroll.
A stash of cash was found in his house and office when they raided them. This is only the tip of the iceberg. More lies buried where policing eyes haven't reached. Or, like in this case, are paid not to reach.
There is another danger here. Watching him filch, there is reason enough for his underlings to do the same. Malfeasance breeds malfeasance. Corruption has grown so bad in the public service that it appears that we have to have a national watchdog to keep an eye on enforcers.
"Who do you trust?" isn't an unnecessary question. Malaysia's "Ali Baba" disease may appear not to be a harmful ailment. Dig deeper, and you will see the harm it causes the country, its institutions, and its people.
Start with the country and its institutions. "Ali Baba" trade-promoting public officials are like abnormal genes that waste away the legal and moral muscle of the country. Malaysia is law-rich but much of it remains in the statute books. If teeth don't bite, it is as good as being toothless.
We have become so toothless—in the eyes of foreigners—that the slogan "Malaysia Boleh", which means "Malaysia can do it", has, no thanks to graft-addicted public officials, come to mean "You can do anything in Malaysia".
Overnight, foreigners, bent on making a fortune from their countrymen, are turning the slogan into an ad pitch for illegals. First, it was by word-of-mouth like the first ads were.
Today, the pitch has gone digital, with traffickers promising to "speedboat" undocumented Indonesians here or home for a hefty fee. It is a thriving business, especially during festivities.
But how do the Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, Indians, and others come and go? With the help of corrupt enforcers, of course. The "Ali Baba" disease undermines the lives of people, too. Locals who want to set up stalls are priced out by foreigners as the latter are willing to pay local council officials up to RM2,000 per month. And some are even willing to engage thugs to ensure that no one disturbs their illegal commerce.
Thus does one illegality breed another. "Money is not evil. It is the greed for it, which is. Discuss." No, this isn't an examination question. It is a serious question that the public service needs to think deeply about. This is not an invitation to pay public servants more. Higher pay doesn't stop illicit incomes.
There is a difference between need and greed. Malfeasance is birthed by greed, not by need.
We shouldn't be surprised if foreigners try to weaken Malaysia's legal and moral muscle. But when our very own in the public service help the outsiders cause the dystrophy, then we must act swiftly.
The enemy without is easy to defeat. Not so the enemy within.