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16 July 2008 No Comment

by Claudia Theophilus on Malaysia kini 23.11.2005

Leaders of six major religions yesterday collectively vowed to fight graft through their respective congregations, a historical first given Malaysia’s often testy inter-faith gatherings.

The six, from the Baha’i faith, Islam, Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Sikhism, have drawn up short, medium and long-term action plans to convey the message that corruption is essentially a ‘sin’. The action plan was the outcome of a brainstorming session involving 40 people of different faiths who also wanted the Anti-Corruption Agency to hold short training courses.

They also inked a pledge to take the “fight (against) corruption in all its manifestations (by) using religious values that we profess and believe in” to their respective communities. The target groups, among others, are children, young parents, schools/varsities, trainee instructors, religious teachers, community leaders, disadvantaged/marginalised groups, businesses, senior citizens, prisoners, public and non-governmental agencies and the media.

The message that corruption is wrong and sinful will go out during religious sermons, on posters, educational material, related comic books, computer games and video-clips. The two-day workshop on ‘The Role of Religion in Anti-Corruption Strategies’ was organised by the Malaysian Society for Transparency & Integrity (Transparency International Malaysia) and sponsored by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation.

Promising outcome
TI Malaysia president and senior lawyer Param Cumaraswamy (right) was optimistic about a religion-based thrust against corruption. “This is a very promising outcome where the religious leaders have undertaken to implement the collective action plan until a review next year,” he said at the Malaysian Integrity Institute in Kuala Lumpur.

“This will give a tremendous boost to the prime minister and the government’s anti-corruption efforts especially since it comes from religious leaders.

“When the public sees religious groups coming together, the government’s battle will ultimately become the people’s fight against corruption,” he added.

Progress of the action plan, said Param, would be monitored closely in an annual review to commemorate Dec 9 which is the International Day Against Corruption.
Muslim leader Muhammad Uthman El-Muhammady (left) said he has seen positive changes since the 1970s where younger people are now more concerned about religion.

“Time is needed before we see progress but we need to constantly remind people against the cultural trivialisation in Asia,” said the Very Distinguished Academic Fellow, International Institute of Islamic Thought & Civilization at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

He said the government will be involved in drafting Friday sermons which carry anti-corruption messages, making it a truly concerted effort.

Fear of God
Hindu leader Dr K Dhamaratnam felt that instilling the enormity of the sin of corruption is important to achieve the action plan’s target. “If we fail to instil the love of God in people, then we need to instil the fear of God to prevent corruption in all its forms.” For more effective action, he suggested that religious groups study the reasons for corruption within their congregation without feeling embarrassed if a particular group is prone to it.

Dr John Fozdar (right), of the Baha’i faith, appealed to the media to help spread religion-based anti-corruption messages. Commenting on materialism, he said it was a worldwide problem which has a very destructive force, leading to broken family units. “We’ve reached rock bottom and as more people recognise the ills that are befalling us, the world will push us upwards.”

Sikh leader V Harcharan Singh said corruption can be prevented if law enforcers and public officials discharge their duties honestly and promptly. “They must look at their duties as part of their religious obligation because the bigger problem in corruption is abuse and misuse of authority.”

Speaking from a Buddhist perspective, Chua Chong Kee said basic teachings are being used to counter the ills caused by greed, ignorance and evil.

Inherent good
“We need to be passionate and persistent (because) I believe there is inherent good in people,” said Penang-based Catholic priest Fr Fabian Dicom (right). He also noted a level of ignorance with the tendency to think that certain things are okay even though it is wrong.

“For example, many people think that paying off someone to avoid inconveniences is okay just because others are doing it.”

Dicom said there was a need to move away from the rituals and rites, and focus on “how to attack people’s conscience” instead. Political scientist Dr Chandra Muzaffar delivered the keynote address.