
A theory on why many kawan-kawan malays accept corrupt leaders? - from Dr Mohd Tajuddin
He said “
Many malays pay little or no tax, My two children, both uni graduates, earn about Rm4k per month and contribute only a few ringgit in taxes, I, on the other hand, pay a substantial amount in tax, but a high earning non malay friend pays 4 times more than I do.
Because many malays do not feel the weight of taxation, corruption involving public funds does not resonate with them
The civil service and political leadership are overwhelmingly malay - about 80%
People may say the country is drowning in debt due to 1MDB, but salaries still come in. Why then should the malays worry about corruption?
As long as salaries and allowance flow, corruption has no impact.
Civil servants and malay businessmen are rarely told that their wages and development allocations - roads, schools, infrastructure - are funded largely by taxes paid by non-malays employed outside government.
The plundering of billions through corruption does not strike home because malays do not feel the burden of national debt.
Corrupt leaders chosen by malays borrow from external sources while siphoning off wealth that rightfully belongs to the people.
Whether at school or university, this issue is never taught.”
The views above expressed are from the writer, Prof. Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi
He is prominent Malaysian architect, academic and public commentator. UCSI lists him as a Professor in its School of Architecture and Built Environment. He previously spent much of his academic career at UTM and was made full professor in 2005.
Here is the full speech
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From DOSM, it shows that the average Malaysian household income by ethnicity:
- Malay - RM8,220
- Chinese - RM11,494
- Indian - RM9,841
- Others - RM6,310
While for the EPF as of 31 December 2025 (members below the age 55) published by KWSP:
Malay - 7.6m members
Total EPF saving RM357billion (Average per members: RM48k)Chinese - 3.2m members
RM467billion (Average per members: RM145k)Indian - 1.0m members
RM74billion (Average per members: RM72k)Other Bumi - 1.5m members
RM44billion (Average per members: RM29k)Other - 0.3m members
RM9.14billion (Average per members: RM30k)