Ian On The Red Dot

If the people’s trust is valuable to our leaders, then it seems to me that they would be wary not only of actual corruption but the perception of corruption.

One of the reasons why Minister Mentor took some of his adversaries to court was because he felt they had defamed him. It would seem, at least to Minister Mentor, that perception matters and there is a real cost if perception does not sync with reality.

Example:
Minister Mentor is not corrupt.
Someone without any factual basis alleges wrongly that Minister Mentor is corrupt.
Minister Mentor has been defamed.
Minister Mentor took the opposition to court wanting compensation for the damaging perception that might have been accepted by the public.

Why?

Because perception matters.
And because the trust between the leaders and those they claim to serve and lead is important and fragile.

The recent coverage of grassroots leader Sear Hock Rongs by Temasek Review is interesting not so much because there is actual corruption but because people perceive that there might be shenanigans going on.

Let’s get this out of the way first. It does look like there are some conflicts of interest but conflicts of interest can be mitigated and dealt with by the correct processes. Arguably such processes have their limitations but these limitations are not evidence of corruption.

The truth is this. If you want to serve the community, then sometimes, though it may seem unfair, effective compartmentalization is needed.

Let’s say you have a company. A great company. You provide awesome services and products. So awesome in fact that you have a lot of clients. Yet your company is still a young company, and you are more than happy to get as many projects as you can. Your company is after all still growing.

Say you also volunteer in an organization and by the grace of God, the organization needs the products and services your company can provide. This is a win-win situation. You can give the organization a great deal, get some business and make some money.

You need to compartmentalize. You need to make it only a win situation for your organization.

How?

Using your expertise running a company that provides such goods and services, you get quotes from other companies, and ensure that these companies provide similar if not better products and services at the same prices you could have offered. After all, you run a similar company. You know when they are bullshitting you on the quotes.

Now, it may be painful to lose a business that really could have been yours. After all, you aren’t overcharging. Nor are you providing a shoddy product or service. For all intents and purposes, you will probably be as good as the company that eventually wins the contract to deliver the product or service.

But that’s why being a grassroots leader isn’t the same as joining the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. It isn’t about being close to potential business. It isn’t about getting contacts to improve your network.

It is about service.

And service comes with sacrifice. Sacrifice of time. Sacrifice of more money.

Sure, you aren’t corrupt. The organization you serve isn’t corrupt. The committee you are part of has processes to ensure, if awarded the contract, your company is deserving.

But life isn’t fair.

And the trust between you and those you claim to serve is so valuable that you are willing to lose that extra dollar to prevent even a false hint of impropriety.

Trust. It is so fragile, a false whisper can destroy it.

The old guard earned it. Don’t squander it for that extra buck.