It takes more than a badge…
About a month ago I was driving back to my hometown on an expressway when as usual, there was a police roadblock somewhere along the way. Expectedly, I was pulled over not because I knew I was speeding, but for the fact that I was a driving a foreign-registered vehicle. Sparing you the details, in no time, I was asked by the policeman to pay him a bribe in place of a summon. Now, if you were familiar with my country, this would seem like an everyday story to you. Corruption is high on the agenda of the police force and without it, most of them would not find a purpose to go out to the middle of the highway to set up a roadblock. What makes the difference this time is their BLATANT ignorence to the badge that they are wearing. All over this police roadblock were car stickers on the police cars and badges on their uniform (like the one above) stating ‘I am Anti-Bribery’ in the local language. Maybe it didn’t occur to them that I understood what it meant - thinking I was a foreigner. Then again, even if I did, what difference does it make? Corruption will still take place in the heart of their operations. The sad thing is that the Prime Minister of my beloved country is trying to rid the country of corruption at all levels in order for us to progress. Ironically, instead of having the police force on his side to enforce this campaign, he is having the mammoth task to rid them FIRST of corruption. Funnily, I thought to myself - "Isn’t it strange that the police are the only ones who have to wear this badge and not everyone in the country?". But of course the explanation is simple - they are the corrupted ones. Well, I sincerely wish my PM the best in his ambitious pursuit, but just a piece of advise Mr PM - It takes more than a badge…
