Making the Visible, Invisible

Corruption may not be an issue that takes several lifes daily, but it still impacts every citizen even if it’s just to a minor degree. In Malaysia, Police Corruption is an ongoing issue involving bribery, extortion, threats and harassment. The police are meant to be our role models, the people we all go to when we feel unsafe. If we know for a fact that often they’re corrupt, how are we supposed to trust them? And why should we continue to pay them for our mistakes knowing that the money goes straight into their pockets? It takes more than one person for corruption to occur.

Police may ask for bribes, but each of us have the right and the power to take a stand and make a change. Don’t give it to them, take it to the station, keep the money away from their pockets. It may not seem like such a big deal, giving one officer RM30 - 50. That doesn’t seem like it could make a difference at all. Then imagine if every time someone passed a traffic light, or was caught speeding they had to bribe their way out of a higher fine. Now imagine what would happen if every one of the 29,000,000 people in Malaysia were to do that. We’ve suddenly put RM1,160,000,000 into their pockets to buy them larger houses, faster cars and higher social status. If we put that much money into their pockets, it takes away the opportunity for a better use of that money, and convinces them that this is something that they’re getting away with and therefore can continue it. This impacts not only the people who have placed their dollars in an officer’s hand but the economy of the country and the ability for each individual to go ahead.

Several shocking facts came up during my researching this topic. I knew police corruption existed in Malaysia, but I had no idea that 40% of senior officers could be arrested and easily proven guilty of this crime simply by their lifestyle. Some officers have a Net Value of RM18,000,000 which is way over what they should have from their monthly salaries. There were stories of police officers who even after being paid a bribe, followed up and began harassing people and threatening them unless they paid more. Learning stories and fact about this issue are truly shocking. Most of us knew this conflict existed, but not to such a high level.

It’s upsetting to know that our role models, and the enforcers of the law are asking us to go against it and break the rules for their own benefit. This was a difficult topic to learn about, and a dangerous topic to publicly speak about, especially in a country like Malaysia. This issue is serious though, and definitely something worth putting time and effort into to find a lasting solution and find an end to all forms of corruption.