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We think Malaysia is already corrupt, but then the whole of Southeast Asia is. A region which saw brutal colonisations across hundreds of years, we inherited flawed systems of governance and overexploited lands. Unfortunately, many of our leaders proved to be corrupt.
Quests mounted on hunger for power and money motivated many of these people to rise to influential positions that they could use for their own benefit.
Here’s a list of the most corrupt political leaders Southeast Asia has ever seen:
1. Hun Sen (Cambodia)
Source: Tomohiro Ohsumi (Getty Images)
A man who is among the longest ruling leaders in the world, his current title is “princely exalted supreme great commander of gloriously victorious troops”. He has been the prime minister of Cambodia since 1985.
His leadership began when the former prime minister died in office during Vietnam’s invasion of Cambodia. Vietnam chose to elect Hun Sen to the role.
His rule has been a vicious one – he frequently threatens his political rivals. Besides his near absolute rule, companies associated with him and his family are the beneficiaries of state concessions and profit generating public contracts.
A report from Global Witness found that the Hun family owned more than US$200 million, but the amount was probably only a fraction of their fortune as the family deliberately obscured their commercial interests.
Cambodia is said to be one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia yet 40% of the population lives below or close to poverty.
Currently, Hun Sen is endorsing his son as a future leader while defending himself against criticisms that he is setting up a political dynasty.
2. Najib (Malaysia)
Source: businesstimes.com.sg
Ah yes, the largest kleptocracy in the world was engineered by our former PM. Mostly a meme nowadays coupled with his herculean efforts to varnish his image, Najib has been found guilty of seven counts of corruption. All of this is linked to his involvement with the infamous 1MDB scandal, a state owned wealth fund which saw transfers of massive amounts to Najib’s own personal accounts, that in turn saw lavish expenditures overseas.
Najib and Rosmah lived in luxury, with Rosmah spending the money on frivolities such as a pink diamond worth US$23 million! Besides that, they owned a private yacht and raids on their homes yielded extravagant sums of luxury goods totalling US$275 million: 284 boxes of designer bags, 2,200 rings, 1,400 necklaces and much much more.
New evidence is found all the time regarding the obscene amounts of money Najib spent, something which angers Malaysians due to the fact that many Malaysians lead lives that are full of hardship. Ironically, 1MDB was promoted as a fund that would help encourage development of Malaysia through foreign investments.
Unfortunately, the only thing that was developed turned out to be Najib’s own bank account totals.
Najib has been recently re-entering the sphere of local politics, having been involved with the state elections in Malacca and Johor as a campaign manager for Barisan Nasional.
3. Ferdinand Marcos (Philippines)
Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Another dictator on this list! Marcos ruled the Philippines from 1972 to 1986. Many who are not Filipinos might recall Imelda Marcos’ (the Philippines’ own Rosmah) luxury shopping sprees and extravagant shoe collection: 2,700 pairs of shoes.
Marcos had ruled the country under martial law and led the country through its worst recessions, something that the Philippines suffers from till now. Foreign debt climbed through this period, which in the short-term helped the Philippines grow rapidly, but burdened future generations.
Marcos also oversaw many schemes that enriched the wallets of his family and cronies. He and his co-conspirators looted the Filipino economy to the point that Imelda actually said in an Inquirer interview that: “We practically own everything in the Philippines”.
Sadly, a revisionist version of his rule has spread amongst Filipinos, with many believing that he was a wronged hero. Until very recently, his body was left unburied with the hopes that he would be given a hero’s burial. I had the misfortune of seeing it: his corpse in a cold room, dressed for a funeral perpetually, pilgrims flocked around him in wonder.
His son is currently running for president of the Philippines and is seen as the favourite to win. Their family’s image has been largely rehabilitated through Imelda Marcos’ efforts. She herself is still in the Philippines’ House of Representatives.
Corruption seems to be the trend in Southeast Asia
Although only three leaders were on this list, there are many more that can still be named and shamed. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be dangerous to do this kind of thing.
There are many who have been brainwashed by propaganda who do not believe that these figures were truly corrupt and they range in their diversity across Southeast Asia.
In this way they prove themselves to be complicit: they allow such people to get away with none of the consequences.
For more stories like this, read: You’re Not Rich Even If You Studied Overseas – The Brutal Truth About Malaysia’s REAL Rich, The Brutal Truth About Corruption In Malaysia Where The Rakyat Continue To Be Poor, and 5 OTHER Times Malaysian Politicians Became #KemaluanNegara.
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