If a country with high levels of corruption runs the risk to lose cur-
rent and future investments, the harmful effects are especially severe
on the poor, who are strongly hit by economic decline, most reliant on
the provision of good economy to get jobs and a decent living, and least
capable of paying the extra costs associated with bribery, fraud, and
the misappropriation of economic privileges.^4 The desire to have a reli-
able and honest cabinet comes from the fact that money is wasted on
unproductive projects whereas funds could have been channelled into
healthcare, public transport, environmental protection, education, sci-
entific research and development. The considerable resources at dis-
posal could have been used to promote genuine human development,
greater food security and a more independent economy.
Actually, a person’s sense of right and wrong alone may not be suf-
ficient to fight corruption. In order to eradicate corruption on a large
scale, a system-wide approach has to be considered, especially in the
area of good governance. Anti-corruption should not only be aimed at
installing the right values and attitudes, but should go beyond that
and strengthen processes and institutions as well as punitive meas-
ures. The Malaysian Integrity Institute has been launched to promote
ethics and enhance integrity in the country, and to support anti-cor-
ruption measures. The police and other security forces will continue
to be strengthened and upgraded to ensure peace and security in the
country. Prime Minister Badawi’s goal is to build a society of indi-
viduals showing high degrees of integrity, character and the fortitude
to work towards a state of ‘zero corruption’.
- What Role Can Christians Play?
2.1. Religious Leaders With Unbending Integrity
What kind of religious leadership does help building strong Chris-
tian communities with integrity? Integrity is the most important
attribute of a religious leader : ‘The saying is sure : whoever aspires to
the office of bishop desires a noble task. Now a bishop must be above
reproach, married only once, temperate, sensible, respectable, hos-
pitable, an apt teacher, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not
quarrelsome, and not a lover of money. He must manage his own
household well, keeping his children submissive and respectful in
every way for if someone does not know how to manage his own
household, how can he take care of God’s church? [...] For those who
serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and great
boldness in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.’ (1 Tim 3 :1-5 :13)^5 Church
leadership is a responsibility, not a right. It is extended to those who
come under the authority of the church’s teachings as expounded in
the Bible and church traditions. It has always been a demanding call-
176 Responsible Leadership : Global Perspectives