Friday, April 04, 2008

The one who blew the whistle

It's probably not so hot a topic now: Chua Soi Lek's fame rose overnight after two dvds were circulated in Johor late December last year. Many have been talking about a certain politician's scandal, but it was confirmed within a week when the man himself made a PC in front of hungry press and his even hungrier musuh dalam selimut (aka friends of the same party who don't like the man's guts).

I don't want to post links to other articles of the same issue. Partly because this is like the umpteenth time it's been raised again. And secondly I have far too many assignments already to worry about proper referencing.

But today 2nd April, in Malaysiakini, the said dvd star said that he has some clues on who the culprit behind the whole incident that caused him losing his job, and some air muka (because I'm sure he did not regret what he did! Correct me if I'm wrong but when I saw the PC, there was even a tinge of proud when he said he was the man behind the tape! Teringin nak jadi filem star rupanya kau), as well as a machoness a person normally has for being able to cheat on his wife. Oh don't get me started here... I'm sure although the wife made statements of how they were all behind him, the scenes at home might not be that idyllic.

Anyways, too much digression there. Yeah so the whistleblower of the incident may be someone the shortlived star knows personally. But then again, are the media and the press at large interested to know who that person or persons might be? Not too much I suppose. Same with any other whistleblowing cases, the hero will be able to escape the attention so long as the impacts are insurmountable. So Mr Ah-Chua, don't try looking for more cheap publicity la, we were more interested on what you did than the person with the VCR who obviously knew well enough about your favourite past-time, what your favourite hotel/motel/resthouse in Muar, andalso the taukeh that owns the place (I bet taukeh received his rewards for the tips as well.) And the personal friend? Let's give her the benefits of the doubt shall we?)

I remembered when we had the group presentation of whistleblowing in CIM class, I was easily fascinated by the stories about those whistleblowers and the necessary protection for them for the kind of backlash they might receive. This doctor from Bristol Infirmary case had to flee to Australia for blowing the whistle about how doctors in that hospital are causing unnecessary deaths of young babies during simple operations.

I was asked at the end of the presentation about the nature of whistle blowing in Malaysia, I was stumped for a moment trying to figure out any interesting cases (of course this was before Soi Lek's rose to stardom). In Malaysia most of these stories relate very much to politics. Everything will be related to politics somehow. MAS overspending on RM3 m worth of paintings come to mind. Pak Lah's RM60 m house in Perth, or Najib's and Razak Baginda's joint-partnership of securing contracts for MINDEF and at the same time pocketing more rich to their already fat wallets and even fattier bank accounts.

All these spread of stories would not be made possible if there are no people brave enough to get up of their fat ar*es and blow the whistle. It does not matter how strong the sound. For the wind will carry it as long as man is allowed to breath by the Almighty.