Warisan deputy president Datuk Darell Leiking is throwing a spotlight on what he sees as an emerging trend: the suppression of discussions on corruption.

Taking to social media, Leiking questioned whether corruption—or “rasuah” in Malay—has now joined the ranks of race, religion, and royalty as a topic too sensitive to debate openly.

“Mungkin ka 3 R di tambah dengan R baru?” he wrote. “Adakah R keempat (4th R) ini dimaksud ‘Rasuah’?”

(Translation: “Could the three Rs be getting a new addition? Is the fourth R meant to be corruption?”)

The three Rs—Race, Religion, and Royalty—have long been considered off-limits for open discourse in Malaysia, with authorities frequently clamping down on discussions deemed to incite tension.

But Leiking suggests a fourth R might be creeping into the equation, and he doesn’t think it’s a coincidence.

Refer post here: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1195450171940471&id=100044264987615&rdid=PWXyWLAiFiGW5DIr

His post comes amid heightened scrutiny of Sabah’s ongoing corruption scandal, which has led to a high-profile legal battle and, most recently, a legal notice warning Malaysiakini over its reporting.

While Leiking doesn’t explicitly reference the notice, his timing is hard to ignore.

“To those who are sensitive, don’t be angry,” he added. “This is just a question, and ‘coincidentally’ the issue that’s currently restricted from discussion happens to be corruption.”

Leiking also used hashtags #The4thR and #JournalistDutyBoundToExposeWrongs, signaling a broader concern over press freedom.

His remarks tap into a growing debate about whether efforts to curb discourse on corruption are intensifying, particularly when they involve influential figures. For now, the Warisan leader’s post leaves one lingering question: Is corruption the next untouchable subject in Malaysia? – Feb 5, 2025.