Saya Anti Rasuah

the only news i get from home is via the The Star Online *, today's headline gave me quite a huge grin amidst trying to finish up my documentation for the research project.

"Saya Anti Rasuah" or I'm against graft (no drew, not graffiti but bribery)badges to be worn by Malaysian policemen as a message to the public as to not tempt the civil servants with money. (are you laughing yet?)

Here's the thing, it always has been common presumption (actually it's a known fact) knowledge that the cops are the one asking for the bribe. e.g. you get stopped by cops on a kapchais (moped) for not wearing your safety belt.

conversations with konstable Amin
Cons. Amin: Selamat Petang, encik
Ah Kau: Hello Datuk
Cons. Amin: Tolong, Dreving lesen dengan IC
Cons.Amin: Encik Ah Kau, kenapa tak pakai tali pinggang? Ni kesalahan besar.
Ah Kau: Encik, saya baru keluar dari rumah. so terlupa.
Cons.Amin: aishhh, macam ni? saman keluar tiga ratus. cam mana?
Ah Kau: ala datuk,bagi chan la
Cons.Amin: Eh, tak boleh. supervisor kat belakang tu.
Cons.Amin: okla, nak settle kat sini ke, tulis saman?
Ah Kau: encik nak settle berapa?
Cons. Amin: Terpulang la pada encik Ah Kau.
Ah Kau: lima ringgit boleh?
Cons. Amin: aiseh, encik lebih sikit la, kasi minum teh dengan rokok cukup la
Cons. Amin: dua puluh la.
Ah Kau : sepuluh boleh?
Cons Amin: hmm .. ok la. letak dalam book saman.
Ah Kau : ok terima kasih.

(the english version)
Cons.Amin: Good Evening
Ah Kau: Hello Sir
Cons.Amin:driving license and ID, please
Cons.Amin Mr. Ah Kau, why didn't you wear your safety belt? did you know it's a big offence?)
Ah Kau: I just came out from my house and i forgot to put it on
Cons.Amin: aishhh, so how? a summon is 300 dollars.
Ah Kau: uhm, can you let this one go?
Cons.Amin: i can't my supervisor's at the back
Cons.Amin: ok do you want to settle it here or do you want me to write the summon?
Ah Kau: how much do you want to settle?
Cons. Amin: depends on your generosity
Ah Kau: RM5?
Cons. Amin: c'mon, give a little bit more for tea and fags
Cons. Amin: 20.
Ah Kau : 10?
Cons Amin: hmm .. ok. put it in the summons book.
Ah Kau : ok thank you.

how many times have i been in that situation but alas now i get to see a badge that will somehow reach into my inner sub conscious and make me refuse to settle a $300 summon with $10. really?

here's my silly idea, how about you raise the constable salary scale from a measely RM600 to maybe RM1000, maybe then, just maybe it might erradicate the problem but then again it will raise taxes and everyone will bitch...

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NAH

i still prefer to graft.