The videos show children of different faiths and ethnicities praying for protection from corruption after learning about it from their parents, accompanied by a message imploring viewers to share their pleas across social media.
The children’s multiracial background reflects the composition of the Rasuah Busters themselves: a group of Malaysians from various ethnic and professional backgrounds hoping to raise awareness and inspire change against corruption.
Thus far, over 200 organisations across Malaysia have voiced their support for the campaign and joined their fight.
Hussamuddin Yaacob, the leader of the anti-graft movement, tells FMT the release of the videos in the run-up to Merdeka is intentional.
“We want the rakyat to be united regardless of race or religion, for them to pray for a country free of corruption.
“Merdeka is the perfect opportunity for the message to really strike an emotional chord.”
The idea for the videos stemmed from the differences in backgrounds between the 14 core members of the movement.
“We come from corporate, media, marketing backgrounds … We didn’t want to release a policy statement like the rest. We wanted to be different. So we put our heads together and came up with something out of the box.”
Calling corruption a “way of life” in Malaysia, Hussamuddin says he is not confident that it can be stamped out by the new government, instead believing it should be changed from the ground up, starting with moral values being taught to the younger generation.
“The aim of the videos is to encourage the current generation to teach their children, and others, how despicable corruption is, and to engage in discussions on how to fight it.
“We need to get rid of the corruption, whether in the political landscape or elsewhere, that has been embedded in the system over the past 60-odd years.”
When asked about what the government should do to eradicate corruption, Hussamuddin states that total reform is needed.
“The change needs to be from the ground up for Malaysia to see long-lasting change. There must be reform from a legal and structural standpoint.”
Hussamuddin called for newly-minted prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to make the same offers to the opposition that his predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin made, as they may be more accepting of the reforms with a new premier in place.
“The current government is in the perfect position to provide Malaysians with the reforms we need, and I think the opposition would agree to sit down with Ismail to discuss Muhyiddin’s propositions properly. I suspect they were resistant before only because they wanted him out of office.”