With the just concluded 15th General Election, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers and members of the parliament have been officially elected and sworn in. What remains to be seen is whether we have wisely chosen these leaders and whether they are truly people of integrity or otherwise. During the election campaigns, all the candidates could paint a good picture of themselves, threw promises beyond the imaginable mind, but when they are given power to govern, only then they are truly tested whether they could fulfil what have been propagated and keep up their own words, and walk the talk. Various corruption issues and high-profile scandals have brought the country to shame where Malaysia was ranked 62 in the 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index with Namibia, Rwanda and Botswana are among some countries who fare better. Alas, in terms of perception index, we are getting worse and worse each year.
What is the meaning of integrity in the first place? Etymologically, the word integrity comes from Old French, sometime around 1,400, integrité, stems directly from Latin integer and later integritatem (nominative integritas). It has the meanings of “innocence, blamelessness; chastity, purity,” also “soundness, wholeness, completeness.” By the 15th century, “integrity” gained a broader concept, rather than just a term that implies “soundness of moral principle and character; entire uprightness or fidelity, especially in regard to truth and fair dealing.” The word “integer” in mathematics means “a whole number” (as opposed to a fraction). Figuratively, if referred to a person, it means a “whole, pure, untainted, and upright,” person. Clearly, “integrity” in the Western tradition holds utmost significant moral standard to every individual, and more so to a leader. Perhaps, it can be said that “integrity” stands as the highest standard above all other elements of good character a person ought to possess.
In Islam, a person with the highest integrity is said to be a man of truthfulness (al-Siddiq), the highest rank used to be given to the closest companion of the Prophet (may peace be upon him), Abu Bakar al-Siddiq. “The Proof of Islam” Imam al-Ghazali (d.1111) states several characteristics of a truthful person which one may refer to his magnum opus, the Ihya Ulum al-Din for more details. A person with integrity or truthfulness is a person that possesses certain characteristics, and some of the important ones are mentioned here, together with al-Ghazali’s concept of “al-Sidq” (truthful). They are:
- Free from corruption. If corruption means accepting bribery, or illegal and illicit monies such as money laundering deemed wrong according to the law of the country, then he is from it. Even accepting gifts whether they are against the law or not, or just merely morally wrong but legally right, still will not happen to him.
- Not misusing power. Likewise, if corruption is to mean misusing the entrusted power for personal, political and other self-interest purposes, then a person of integrity should avoid from doing it, but rather use it for the purpose of public interest and saveguard the interest of the nation.
- Abstaining from cronyism: A person of integrity will not be involved in any form of cronyism or nepotism. Any appointment of individuals to certain posts must be based on merit rather than on connection or relationship with them, or for other hidden personal interest.
- Truthful in intention: A leader of integrity has a heart that is sincere and truthful in all actions that he performs for the sake of attaining the pleasure of Allah SWT and none other. If in the event of him seeking the pleasure of Allah, his subjects or people are pleased with him too, then that would be a bonus for his sincere intention, not that he sought for it.
- Truthful in speech: he must fulfil all the promises he has made in the past and try not to make promises in the future that he is unable to fulfil, for betraying promises is tantamount to being a hypocrite (munafiq), liar (kadhib) and treacherous (khiyanah).
- Truthful in action: He must strive earnestly to deliver his duties to the best of his abilities sincerely without having the slightest intention to show off to other people of his actions. Even when there is no one watching him, he still strives his best to seek the pleasure of Allah SWT for His rewards in the Hereafter is far better than the praises he might get in this world. His inner self and actions must be in conformity with his outward appearance.
- Truthful in Determination. It means one who does good and executes justice without fear or favour. He has strong determination to ensure that justice is served to his people at all costs even if it means he has to be sacrificed in a war and lost in a battle, for example, so long as it benefits his people at large. No force can sway or weaken him from performing justice.
In conclusion, we can say that integrity holds the highest position among all the characteristics of good character a person, particularly a leader, ought to have. Integrity is not just merely preached, but must also be seen to be done. The leaders must be the exemplars of people with highest integrity The Muslims are longing to see integrity people like our Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) and the rightful-guided caliphs and Caliph Umar ibn Abdul Aziz. The world also wish people full of integrity like Martin Lurther King, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and the alikes, will rise again in this world.
