D37 : Towards a Corruption-free Society

Transparency International (Malaysia) has defined corruption as the “abuse of entrusted power for private gain”. In Biblical terms, corruption includes all that which distorts and brings decay due to the ravages of sin, the consequences of which is death to the nation and society. It includes bribery, illegal activities and all that is scandalous both private and publicly. For the third consecutive year, Malaysia witnessed a decline in her Corruption Perception Index. In 2011, Malaysia’s score of 4.3 is slightly lower than 4.4 recorded in 2010 (1). It is significantly lower than the government’s benchmark of 4.9. Although public awareness against bribery and corruption has arisen, not enough is being done to combat corruption on the grand scale. These include the practice of awarding mega projects and contracts without open tender, limited access to information that encourages secrecy and the close ties between business and politics in Malaysia.

(1)The Corruption Perception Index (CPI) is a composite index, a combination of polls showing how corrupt a public sector of a country is perceived to be. The index is a spectrum ranging from 1 which is the worst, to 10 which is the best.

Prayer Suggestions: • Pray for a culture of righteousness, transparency and morality to be restored and upheld. • Pray that the government will have the will and determination to stem out corrupt practices. • Pray for the church to be a beacon of light in our lives and daily practices so that we may be examples of ethical integrity to the nation.