“Corruption is not bad, corruption is only bad if I'm not involved. But if I’m part of that corruption, I’ll defend it” originated from a satirical speech by Kenyan human rights activist Samson Owimba Ojiayo.
Samson Owimba Ojiayo is a human rights activist, not a corrupt official speaking literally.
He used irony, satire, and exaggerated rhetoric during a public speech to criticize how people and leaders hypocritically condone or defend corruption when they benefit from it.
Corruption is the "lubricant that drives the wheels".
Corrupt funds recirculate into the economy to generate financial activity.
When officials or businesses engage in corruption, the illicit wealth does not just vanish.
It flows back into the system through several main channels:
- Luxury Consumption: Corrupt actors frequently spend their gains on high-end real estate, luxury vehicles, high-end retail, and fine dining, which boosts service and retail sectors.
- Asset Inflation: Large volumes of illicit cash are often laundered into stable sectors, most notably residential and commercial real estate, driving up property values.
- Shell Corporations & Re-investment: Funds moved offshore frequently return to the host country disguised as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), funding domestic corporate ventures or capital projects.
The moral decay and absence of integrity among public representatives reached its zenith on 18 Sept 2026.
That day, the contradiction between public rhetoric and private behavior often referred to as "political hypocrisy" or "moral licensing" was revealed publicly for every Malaysian to see.
18 Sept 2026 has confirmed to me that politicians who championed and promote themselves as "fighting corruption" primarily used this theme as a strategic campaign tool used to undermine opponents rather than a genuine policy goal.
To them, they knew that railing against systemic corruption is one of the most effective ways to channel public anger and win elections.
Publicly, PH has opposed leniency towards PM6.
18 Sept 2026 destroyed all the public displays.
PH can always claim everything was done and in accordance to the laws of the country.
But the people are not stupid.
PH is the government of the day.
They are part of the system, just like other political parties, even if they are in the opposition now.
It was just convenient for them to pretend they're different from each other when they were seeking to be the government in Nov 2022.
Once in office, many allegations were made against them using anti-corruption agencies selectively to target political rivals while shielding their own allies, effectively institutionalizing their own corrupt practices.
18 Sept 2026 has now increased a sense of entitlement in all politicians and the elites and probably lead some of them to believe that rules apply only to ordinary citizens and that they are immune to legal consequences.
Politicians figure they don't need to be good to get elected, just a little less bad than the opponent.
So, in the next election, I am going to vote for the candidate and political party / coalition who are more corrupt than the ones in this election, since the name of the game isn't voting for good candidates, but rather the least bad option.
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