http://www.aseannewsnetwork.com/2005/07/singapore-review-legitimized.html
From: Carl Kapeland
To: Mellanie Hewlitt
Singapore Review - Legitimized Corruption Understood
In the latest developments the entire National Kidney Foundation
Board of Singapore and its CEO have taken the easy route out and
resigned. That's leadership for you, when things get messy, just
get up and leave the mess for someone else to clean up.
But I don't think the new CEO or Board will do much cleaning up.
Looks like they are replacing one bunch of rotten apples with
another bunch of potentially more rotten apples. It does not
address the real problem.
WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM?
There are several recurrent issues here. Singapore is in this
current mess because Lee's PAP Government has forgotten that not
everything can be reduced to money. You cannot throw money at all
your problems and expect it to magically disappear.
The material base that motivates Singapore's "leaders" is only too
evident when the NKF's transit CEO (Gerald Ee) hinted that
"SGD600,000/- may not be sufficient for the new replacement to take
office"!!! Money is the only motivating factor and if they have
elected a leader and a board who is motivated only by money, its
only
a natural and unavoidable result that they will end up with an
organization which has forgotten its once noble purpose and
replaced it with more materialistic pursuits.
Have they (Singapore) appointed a Wolf in sheep's clothing to guard
their precious flock? For positions like these in charity
organizations, THE CHIEF MOTIVATING FACTOR CANNOT BE MONEY! as they
are not running an investment bank.
The same applies senior public service positions and for
ministerial positions. NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE REDUCED TO MONEY. But
Lee's PAP Ministers have used this holistic approach to address any
and all issues under the sun.
Lee and his ministers simply CANNOT RUN A COUNTRY THE SAME WAY THEY
RUN A COMPANY. Why? Because a country comprises of flesh and blood
and spirit. A company is merely a corporate vehicle that is often
set-up for the sole purpose of reaping a monetary profit.
SINGAPORE AS A COUNTRY, IS NOT SINGAPORE INC!!!! And even if it is,
its directors (and that means Lee and his million dollar cabinet)
have to remain accountable to the shareholders (Singapore
citizens). Singapore MINISTERS have to be transparent, and they are
not especially as regards their salaries and the management of the
country's reserves.
Consider this, the NKF was originally set up as a supposedly
charitable organization. In form and function it appeared above
board and reputable. But in actual practice it had a hidden agenda
to siphon wealth from the public into state coffers. And what
happens to all this money (all SGD200 million of it?) No body
knows.
These same similarities in the NKF saga are reproduced on a grander
scale in overall state administration in Singapore. Whether its the
CPF, LTA, GLCs, Temasek etc they all relate to the the same basic
issue. It goes back to the same bunch of corrupt leaders paying
themselves and their cronies humongous rediculous salaries,
approved
and legitimized under a set of bogus laws that they legislated in
the first place.
But even before this NKF scam, transparency issues have dogged
Singapore's state administration for decades and repeated requests
by the World Bank, IMF, FTA and other NGOs for greater
accountability and transparency have basically fallen on deaf
ears.
These are basic transparency issues which plaque management of
public moneys by all state entities (whether its the CPF Board,
GLCs, Temasek, LTA etc). There is massive deception on a grand
scale and I suspect the latest NKF debacle only surfaced due to
internal friction within Singapore's "inner-circle of elite
politicians." Perhaps
someone amongst Singapore's Ruling Elite wanted a bigger portion of
the loot.
Think about it. Durai commenced his latest law suite on the
confident assumption that it would be a "no contest" walk-over like
his two previous suites. But whilst the Singapore sham courts had
no problems finding in his favor in the 2 previous suites (which
were taken against private individuals and a volunteer who
correctly questioned his lavish spending), the latest suite was
against another state bureaucracy.
And it was inevitable that the sham court found in favor of the
bigger devil. So even amongst the thieves there is a power struggle
over who gets a bigger piece of the loot.
So this then is justice ala Singapore styled. Who you are and who
you are connected with ultimately decides the outcome of the law
suite.
The material facts of the case (and legal premise) have little
relevance in the kangaroo's court final assessment.
But by far the most troubling problem is that of Legitimized
Corruption. You (Mellanie) have used the term "Legitimized
Corruption" very accurately, but failed to elaborate on its true
meaning and implications.
Legitimized Corruption means essentially that the corrupt act
itself is made perfectly legal. That is why there is a possibility
that the external audit on NKF may turn out nothing because Durai
and his actions may have been all perfectly legitimate and
authorized according to the internal constitution of the
Board.
In a normal organization with bona fide controls in place, the
Board would not have approved and allowed such unreasonable and
lavish expenditures. However, in Singapore's setting where
"anything goes" it is possible that the board were within their
discretionary powers to authorize such lavish expenditures. Mind
you these are
expenditures which (by any ordinary definition) would have amounted
to an immoral mis-management of public moneys for unauthorized
applications. But if the internal rules of conduct of NKF allowed
the Board to act in this manner, it would then be an authorized and
legitimate act.
So even after the process of audit has concluded it is perfectly
possible for the auditors to conclude that the use of donor funds
for;
a) Durai's pay of SGD600,000 and his salary of SGD1.8
million;
b) All expenses and application of donor funds used for purchase of
SGD990/- god taps;
c) All expenses for first class air travel;
d) The levying of a 30% Admin Fee;
e) The hiring of personal drivers and limos.
All of the above are authorized and legitimate.
Anyway we all know that the so called "audit" of the NKF accounts
is merely a publicity stunt to show case to the world that the
current government and the new board is taking steps to remain
accountable.
But does this make the above acts any more acceptable and morally
correct. NO! Of cause not. An atrocity is still an atrocity even
though it is legitimized.
One clear example is prostitution in Singapore. It is legal and the
fact that it is legal does not detract one iota from the fact that
it is still immoral, depraved and inhuman.
Of cause there are critics who will argue that moral values are to
subjective concepts and we cannot always use these imprecise
measures to define what is right or wrong. And I concede that there
is some truth in this as we live in a world coloured in grey.
However, there will always remain some acts which are so blatantly
wrong that they remain morally objectionable and immoral by any
standard and yardstick. And the NKF scam (as well as Singapore
ministerial salaries) fall within this category. It is morally
wrong by any measure and this is not a grey area at all.
This same logic applies on a larger scale as regards ministerial
salaries and the process that is orchestrated to "approve" such
unreasonable and lavish salaries (amounting to millions of dollars
per minister).
Legitimized Corruption works much like Money Laundering, but is
worse. In essence Legitimized Corruption is corruption which is
made legal. These perpetrators attempt to do what drug cartels and
money launderers do;- basically "launder" the money (or the
dishonest act) and make the final product appear nice and
clean.
But senior politicians differ from your average drug lord or mafia
boss in one important respect;- these ministers are much more
sophisticated. They know the system (and probably designed it) and
know how to manipulate and tweak the system so that they can have
access to the ill-gotten gains without getting their hands
dirty.
Next to them, Gordon Gecko and the God-Father look like novices and
vestal virgins.
However make no mistake the underlying act itself remains wrong,
dishonest and morally objectionable but is hidden under a cloak of
legitimacy. Drug money (and money from dishonest trades) is still
ill-gotten loot. Behind this elaborate sham are a host of corporate
and state entities (GLCs, state owned entities and yes, charitable
organisations) which are set-up to place a corporate veil between
the
real perpetrators and the morally objectionable and dishonest
transaction.
The fact that it is perfectly legitimate does not itself make it
MORALLY CORRECT.
This is especially the case when you have a legislature that is
totally removed (and remains out of touch) with the moral values
and aspirations of the people it is supposed to serve and
protect.
In fact, this kind of legitimized corruption is the worst possible
kind as it means the corruption has infiltrated the most senior
ranks of management (and the political leaders).
Compared to this elaborate deceit, the more obvious corruption in
Indonesia are crude by comparison and far easier to identify and
correct as it is acknowledged that such objectionable acts itself
are WRONG and are not endorsed by the country's laws.
How do you ask a cop to catch a thief when the cop himself is a
thief?
Legitimized Corruption by its very nature is more sinister and
difficult to identify. For instance, a government official who
accepts bribes worth $1.6 million a year is guilty of corruption.
But what happens if this same official or minister receives this
money as part of his "LEGITIMATE" salary.
In both cases the act itself is the same unconscionable and immoral
act. But in the later case, there is no need for the official to
hide his ill-gotten gains as it is
formally endorsed by an equally corrupt legislature/parliament who
has a hand in the ill gotten gains.
The definition of a Parasitic Leech is as follows: "leech: a
follower who hangs around a host (without benefit to the host) in
hope of gain or advantage"
The kind of legitimized corruption already endorsed and prevalent
in Singapore's state machinery is far worse. It is a cancerous
malice which is more surreptitious and insidious.
The festering rot is not immediately apparent to an external casual
observer but is eating away the core of the its host. Left
unchecked, such parasites will consume a once healthy body before
discarding the empty shell and relocating to another unwary
host.
Legitimized Corruption is also like cancer. It is a chronic ailment
which rooted itself very deeply within the host (and the state
machinery). Such a chronic ailment did not occur over night but
took place over decades of accumulated unchecked accesses.
Durai himself was in the NKF for over 30 years and it is no mere
coincidence that
Singapore has been under the same government (and people and
family) for over 30 years.
This is precisely the reason why in the US and other bona fide
democracies there is a mandatory change in administration every 4-8
years. A new administration brings forth a completely new
government which will was away unchecked accesses and commence
things tabula rasa.
But somehow in Singapore it appears that only families starting
with the Lee sirname or who are closely affiliated with this first
family are the only candidates who qualify for election.
What a quaint and family friendly arrangement! Its just too bad
that the average
Singaporean is excluded from this elitist inner-circle.
However, Singapore's Ruling Elite also have to be wary of the
accompanying dangers of in-breeding which can occur from a small
and exclusive gene pool. Cancerous deformaities can result after
generations of in-breeding.
And the Cancer has many signs and symptoms. There have already been
many evident tell tale signs of the internal rot and its
accompanying putrid stench. However, Singaporeans in their numbed
state of awareness may be mistaking the over-powering stench of
decay for sweet perfume.
The entire state machinery is orchestrated to maintain this state
of illusion and deception.
In the normal mechanics of an open and transparent state
legislature and government, the moral values of the mans on the
street is reflected (although not perfectly) in the policy
formulation process.
This is not the case in Singapore and your "leaders" know it. Just
challenge them to run a referendum regarding their salaries and it
will be evident that 90% of the population are totally disgusted by
such blatant acts of greed.
Of cause the local state owned media will somehow always paint the
picture of an adoring and obedient public as part of an elaborate
charade. So the truth never ever gets out.
Corruption of this scale starts form the top and slowly works its
way down the ranks to pollute every senior arm of the state
machinery from the Judiciary to Legislature to the Executive and
especially to a docile and compliant state managed local
press.
It cannot be stopped easily without external intervention.
Slowly but surely what started off as a morally unacceptable issue
becomes part and parcel of "accepted norm" which is disguised
behind a pile of state endorsed laws and bills.
Even the once sacred document, the Constitution, is not spared and
is re-written to the whims and fancies of those they serve. How
many Singaporeans are aware of the fact that the country's
Constituion has been amended to allow state owned entities and GLCs
easier access directly to the country's reserves?
And it also does not take a genius to work out that it is the close
affiliates of the Ruling Elite who sit on the management boards of
these state owned entities and GLCs.
The following is a fascinating observation. The exact size of
Singapore's foreign exchange reserves and the management of those
funds is designated as a STATE SECURITY FOR INTERNAL SECURITY
REASONS.
Is it mere co-incidence that the conservative ball park estimate of
the net worth of the Lee family is roughly equivalent to your
country's reserves? (USD130-140 billion?)
What you have in Singapore are a bunch of hired mercenaries who are
ripping off the very people they are supposed to look after.
Singaporeans. This is your country and your life. If you continue
in this state of drugged apathy, you will cease to have any control
over your own faith and destiny.
Do you really want to hand over your life to the devil?
Do you want to have a Singapore with No Singaporeans?
Its time to wake up from your state of denial and confront the
harsh reality before your very eyes.
Yours faithfully
Carl Kapeland
Ohio State
#Article posted by Wolfgang Holzem / Erwan Shah @ 10:47 AM