Protection of bribe takers the real scandal
Published: Dec 9, 2025 8:06 AM
Updated: 11:06 AM
YOURSAY | ‘This isn’t about glorifying anyone, it’s about a system shielding the powerful.’
Anwar perturbed by trend of 'glorifying' bribe givers
Cogito Ergo Sum: Who is “glorifying” bribe givers? Please let us know so that we can identify them and shame them. If you are referring to businessperson Albert Tei, he has admitted to giving bribes and has the evidence to prove it.
He has admitted to being a bribe-giver. But why are we ignoring the bribe takers and protecting them? Their actions cause far greater damage than the giver.
Going after the person who dared to make a report against the bribe taker is not right, even in a warped world.
GP2025: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, you should instead address the rampant corruption in the civil service, where payments are demanded to push various levels of approval for projects and infrastructure developments.
Bribe givers in this case have no choice but to comply to get the work done.
You are referring to an isolated case where both the giver and taker are at fault. However, the giver has provided evidence of major involvement in the mining scandal, yet it appears to be treated lightly.
This should be your focus: to push for an investigation and ensure appropriate action is taken. Making statements like this is not in the best interest of your leadership.
Knucklehead: Anwar talks about “glorifying bribe givers”, but the real scandal is the protection of bribe receivers.
MACC, under chief commissioner Azam Baki, has perfected the art of sleeping through accountability. Instead of chasing the politicians who pocketed the money, they twist the narrative to demonise the one exposing the rot.
This isn’t about glorifying anyone; it’s about a system shielding the powerful while punishing the whistleblower.
YellowFalcon7173: The prime minister has failed to appreciate the following:
1. Anyone who wants to do business in this country is "forced" to bribe their way. This is the culture, especially when it involves government or state contracts.
2. These people must give so much just to earn a living.
We applaud Tei not for what he has done, but for his bravery in exposing alleged corruption in East Malaysia, including from your own political secretary right under your nose. Many choose not to speak up for fear of repercussions.
So, the prime minister needs to understand that before claiming that people who give bribes are glorified. His statement is pure nonsense.
Apanama is Back: Yes, the receiver should be glorified with mercy and compassion, with house arrest in a special case.
Eight receivers were elected again in one state election. With these people, you will be the prime minister. I assume you mean the receiver should be glorified, since their support is crucial to you.
Well done on your high-integrity speech.
The giver will give, but the receiver can refuse. Why does the receiver take it and later “buat bodoh” (act innocent)?
A Little Bit Crazy: The prime minister has a very strange logic. We don’t glorify Tei, but we don’t agree with MACC’s selective arrests, such as sending in a squad to arrest him. It looked like MACC was trying to scare bribe givers so they would be afraid to go public.
If the same squad members were sent to arrest Sabah assemblypersons and your political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, then we would understand MACC’s stance.
Please stay in Malaysia and handle internal affairs first. Many of your ministers are out of touch, too, always implementing policies that bring no benefit to the public.
CH Y: If you look at the factual sequence, Tei is a person who is equally complicit in the bribery case.
He allegedly bribed many different politicians in Sabah to corner prospecting mineral licences instead of having a competitive business plan accepted as the best in the state. Secretly taping them for blackmail?
Then, allegedly after not making headway in Sabah, he turned to Putrajaya to corrupt further middle-rung political operatives. All the while, he had no solid business plan to back up his requests.
Tei, you reap what you sow. He will turn around and accuse anyone to get publicity when his 300 pages of proof consist of inconclusive WhatsApp messages, throwing donations like a blind fool to curry favour.
You want to give, knowing a politician’s word verbally is not worth anything but an election pledge. It is your folly, Tei.
TM My Foot: “Not only that, but we now also have a trend, a trend to deify and glorify bribe givers. I think it is very disturbing. Because this will not be able to lift our state and country.”
When were you ever interested in lifting Malaysia out of its corruptive ways? The state has been very selective when it comes to charging those aligned with it, while being heavy-handed when it comes to others.
This is called discrimination. We see it in every state institution while the government is pretending to lament why this, and why that.
The state doesn’t need enemies because it will ruin itself eventually at the expense of every Malaysian.
While some are still sleeping and led by their nose rings, some are aware that in the long run, Malaysia is doomed, and will turn into another Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh or even Afghanistan.
All the signs are there.
Published: Dec 9, 2025 8:06 AM
Updated: 11:06 AM
YOURSAY | ‘This isn’t about glorifying anyone, it’s about a system shielding the powerful.’
Anwar perturbed by trend of 'glorifying' bribe givers
Cogito Ergo Sum: Who is “glorifying” bribe givers? Please let us know so that we can identify them and shame them. If you are referring to businessperson Albert Tei, he has admitted to giving bribes and has the evidence to prove it.
He has admitted to being a bribe-giver. But why are we ignoring the bribe takers and protecting them? Their actions cause far greater damage than the giver.
Going after the person who dared to make a report against the bribe taker is not right, even in a warped world.
GP2025: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, you should instead address the rampant corruption in the civil service, where payments are demanded to push various levels of approval for projects and infrastructure developments.
Bribe givers in this case have no choice but to comply to get the work done.
You are referring to an isolated case where both the giver and taker are at fault. However, the giver has provided evidence of major involvement in the mining scandal, yet it appears to be treated lightly.
This should be your focus: to push for an investigation and ensure appropriate action is taken. Making statements like this is not in the best interest of your leadership.
Knucklehead: Anwar talks about “glorifying bribe givers”, but the real scandal is the protection of bribe receivers.
MACC, under chief commissioner Azam Baki, has perfected the art of sleeping through accountability. Instead of chasing the politicians who pocketed the money, they twist the narrative to demonise the one exposing the rot.
This isn’t about glorifying anyone; it’s about a system shielding the powerful while punishing the whistleblower.
YellowFalcon7173: The prime minister has failed to appreciate the following:
1. Anyone who wants to do business in this country is "forced" to bribe their way. This is the culture, especially when it involves government or state contracts.
2. These people must give so much just to earn a living.
We applaud Tei not for what he has done, but for his bravery in exposing alleged corruption in East Malaysia, including from your own political secretary right under your nose. Many choose not to speak up for fear of repercussions.
So, the prime minister needs to understand that before claiming that people who give bribes are glorified. His statement is pure nonsense.
Apanama is Back: Yes, the receiver should be glorified with mercy and compassion, with house arrest in a special case.
Eight receivers were elected again in one state election. With these people, you will be the prime minister. I assume you mean the receiver should be glorified, since their support is crucial to you.
Well done on your high-integrity speech.
The giver will give, but the receiver can refuse. Why does the receiver take it and later “buat bodoh” (act innocent)?
A Little Bit Crazy: The prime minister has a very strange logic. We don’t glorify Tei, but we don’t agree with MACC’s selective arrests, such as sending in a squad to arrest him. It looked like MACC was trying to scare bribe givers so they would be afraid to go public.
If the same squad members were sent to arrest Sabah assemblypersons and your political secretary, Shamsul Iskandar Akin, then we would understand MACC’s stance.
Please stay in Malaysia and handle internal affairs first. Many of your ministers are out of touch, too, always implementing policies that bring no benefit to the public.
CH Y: If you look at the factual sequence, Tei is a person who is equally complicit in the bribery case.
He allegedly bribed many different politicians in Sabah to corner prospecting mineral licences instead of having a competitive business plan accepted as the best in the state. Secretly taping them for blackmail?
Then, allegedly after not making headway in Sabah, he turned to Putrajaya to corrupt further middle-rung political operatives. All the while, he had no solid business plan to back up his requests.
Tei, you reap what you sow. He will turn around and accuse anyone to get publicity when his 300 pages of proof consist of inconclusive WhatsApp messages, throwing donations like a blind fool to curry favour.
You want to give, knowing a politician’s word verbally is not worth anything but an election pledge. It is your folly, Tei.
TM My Foot: “Not only that, but we now also have a trend, a trend to deify and glorify bribe givers. I think it is very disturbing. Because this will not be able to lift our state and country.”
When were you ever interested in lifting Malaysia out of its corruptive ways? The state has been very selective when it comes to charging those aligned with it, while being heavy-handed when it comes to others.
This is called discrimination. We see it in every state institution while the government is pretending to lament why this, and why that.
The state doesn’t need enemies because it will ruin itself eventually at the expense of every Malaysian.
While some are still sleeping and led by their nose rings, some are aware that in the long run, Malaysia is doomed, and will turn into another Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh or even Afghanistan.
All the signs are there.
