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Abdullah invited to the first of series of DAP’s “Malaysia Boleh” forums themed “How Malaysia can be among the world’s top ten least corrupt nations within a decade” in Petaling Jaya on Sept. 10 Speech (2) - when launching the DAP’s 46th National Day Celebrations and the  “Defend Secular Malaysia” campaign at the Farlim market, Paya Terubong by Lim Kit Siang (Penang,  Tuesday): DAP has sent an invitation to the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to the first of a series of  “Malaysia Boleh” forums, themed   “How Malaysia can be among the world’s top ten least corrupt nations within a decade” in Petaling Jaya (Crystal Crown Hotel) on Wednesday, September 10 at 8 p.m.  Recently, both the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah have in their speeches expressed their concern about the problem of corruption  and their commitment to an all-out war against corruption to create a culture of zero-tolerance for corruption in public life.  This concern has been echoed by academician Professor Ungku Aziz in his interview with Mingguan Malaysia on “Erti kemerdekaan kita” (MM 31.8.03), where he said:  “Satu perkara yang menakutkan saya pada masa ini ialah peningkatan gejala rasuah. Secara umumnya, lebih tinggi rasuah yang ada, lebih kurang kemerdekaan yang dimiliki.  “Kalau banyak sangat rasuah, negara akan terancam.  Kita nampaknya kini dilanda masalah rasuah yang besar-besar. Ia sudah menular di Lembaga Tabung Haji, Koperasi Angkatan Tentera. Dulu kita dengar kes rasuah sekali-sekala, tetapi sekarang frekuensinya sudah bertambah.  “Kita patut bertanya kenapa sekarang kita menghadapi gejala negative yang semakin membesar ini berbanding lima tahun lalu?  Kenapa orang Melayu mengazabkan diri mereka sendiri?  “Rasuah akan meracuni system kita.  Ini adalah sesuatu yang serius kerana mereka ini orang yang mempunyai kedudukan dan kuasa. Sekarang kita bercakap tentang nilai berjuta-juta ringgit.”  The only discordant note so far has come from the Gerakan leadership which expressed satisfaction with Malaysia’s 33rd ranking out of 102 countries in the Transparency International (TI)’s  Corruption Perception Index 2002, although the country has slipped from the already-poor 23rd placing seven years ago in 1995.  In my invitation to Abdullah, I had proposed the establishment of a national consensus transcending politics, race and religion on the war against corruption, and that he send a Cabinet Minister to represent him if he is unable to attend the forum.  An invitation has also been sent to the Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Zulkipli Mat Noor to the forum, where distinguished panellists like Tunku Aziz of Transparency International will also participate. (2/9/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman