Fifty shades of grey

THE fallout from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal has shone a spotlight on corporate Malaysia which illuminated a spectrum of grey.

Not black or white, but a multitude of grey.

Grey because as we all digest the intricacies and enormity of the web which 1MDB weaved, the realisation dawns that there are really very few well-known personalities who can claim not to have crossed paths with, or at least brushed up against, the investment fund’s business affairs.

Which brings us to the ongoing purge of a number of individuals whose guilt by association to the previous administration’s personalities or policies, rather than the 1MDB scandal per se.

As to whether these casualties, so to speak, are warranted or not, they are in myriad perspectives of grey.

Take the governor who resigned despite not backing down from his assertion that he had followed procedures, and done nothing that his predecessor had not – grey.

A corporate figure whose impeccable track record did not matter, for his alignment to the policies of the now disgraced administration – light grey.

A banker, whose blood ties to the previous administration worked against him in a government looking to wipe the slate clean – platinum.

An investigative journalist asking another making a buck from his work uncovering the most outrageous of personalities in the 1MDB case to reveal his source – jet.

Businessmen going all out to back the government of the day, only to later recant citing pressure – nickel.

And there are many other shades which go beyond corporate Malaysia.

Take the hit in popularity of a beloved actress, whose martial arts skills have wowed locals for years, for now being part of a much talked about film deal involving the former prime minister whom she had publicly supported prior to the change in government – ash grey.

And while it is easy to say that it is confined to an old palette, is it though?

Because as heads roll, the palette has been replaced but it appears to be tarred with the same brush.

For example, the appointment of a Democratic Action Party politician as a member of the Sustainable Energy Development Authority of Malaysia on Aug 2, 2018 – silver.

Yesterday’s announcement by the Entrepreneur Development Minister of a Parti Keadilan Rakyat member, who was once considered as a candidate for the Tanah Merah seat in the last general election, as chairman of Tekun Nasional – charcoal.

These despite the “no political appointees” pledge. Who decides which political appointee is kosher?

The shades of grey paint a picture of a corporate Malaysia and, indeed, Malaysia, that is far too dominated by politicians and their allies.

A cause and effect to the state that we are currently in, driving home the need to decouple business and politics as far and as soon as possible.

Then maybe, the next time the spotlight is shone on corporate Malaysia, it will be less grey and reflect more shades of white.