Editor,

RE: "Why you should report corruption” (The New Times, February 26).

I am somewhat dismayed by the headline: "Why you must report corruption” sounds a lot more explicative to me. Reporting corruption is every citizen’s responsibility. When one sees corruption and does not report it, they are as bad as those directly involved. "If you see something, say something” so goes a common saying in a certain country.

Restricting corruption to just bribery leaves room for incompetent and irresponsible humans in public services. People must know that incompetent and irresponsible leaders or anyone who misuses their status as a public servant in any way is corrupt. If police are slack, people might have problems. If a school head teacher is incompetent to lead their school, they are corrupt — only because to them, many people get intellectually stunted.

Corruption is everywhere, if we look closely. We must uproot it in all of its forms if we desire to be a truly progressive society. We have done a good job on the bribery-type of corruption thus far.

If a corrupt public health officer causes delay in health projects implementation and people die due to poor health, I will assert that he committed a crime against humanity. We must also stand up against corruption disguised in other forms than bribery. It takes people’s lives; it deprives us of intellectual development we deserve as humans.

If corruption in all of its forms could drop by one percentage point, GDP would certainly rise by much more than a mere 0.5 per cent.