Just a little bit more...

Finally, after a long time, I attended a family get-together. As expected, most of the attendees were there not because they were dying to witness the obnoxious display of affection amongst family members. They were there either for the booze or were just happy to come out of their houses after being cooped up for so long.

Of course, the event they looked forward to most was banter with friends over drinks at the corner of the hall. It was the opportune time to catch up with the rumours around Malaysian public life. These lively and animated talks are more convincing than the umpteen WhatsApp and social media messages circulating amongst friends. Nothing beats live chats. In Malaysia, coffee shop rumours are notoriously known to carry more weightage than official statements. Even though denied vehemently by the powers-that-be, these rumours will prove to be the real deal after all.

This time around, the corner crowd comprise civil servants and self-made entrepreneurs. Being true blood Malaysians, they whine about everything and do nothing about them. What better topic to talk than about politics and corruption? I gather that these men, of their esteemed stature, must indeed have had frequent encounters with politicians and men in high office. After a few doses of inhibition-inducing beverages, boy, did they start venting!

Malaysia's own superhero
after Superman, Spiderman, Batman and Hanuman,
welcome SAPUMAN!

If these people were complaining that corruption was rearing its ugly head ten years ago, now they seem to be singing a different tune. They used to sing praises of certain leaders who still held true to their profession. These friends of mine claim that taking bribes is not too bad. It is the norm, a social lubricant, that happens the world over; even developed nations are guilty of it, and feted leaders do it. The grouse they had is with people who make obscene kickbacks.

"It is okay to make money, but it is not okay to take too much," they say as if justifying corruption. Just like skin-deep beauty and beauty on the inside, nobody talks about good virtue anymore!

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