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Abdullah invited to the first of series of DAP�s �Malaysia Boleh� forums themed �How Malaysia can be among the world�s top ten least corrupt nations within a decade� in Petaling Jaya on Sept. 10 Speech (2) - when launching the DAP�s 46th National Day Celebrations and the  �Defend Secular Malaysia� campaign at the Farlim market, Paya Terubong by Lim Kit Siang (Penang,  Tuesday): DAP has sent an invitation to the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to the first of a series of  ï¿½Malaysia Boleh� forums, themed   ï¿½How Malaysia can be among the world�s top ten least corrupt nations within a decade� in Petaling Jaya (Crystal Crown Hotel) on Wednesday, September 10 at 8 p.m.  Recently, both the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah have in their speeches expressed their concern about the problem of corruption  and their commitment to an all-out war against corruption to create a culture of zero-tolerance for corruption in public life.  This concern has been echoed by academician Professor Ungku Aziz in his interview with Mingguan Malaysia on �Erti kemerdekaan kita� (MM 31.8.03), where he said:  �Satu perkara yang menakutkan saya pada masa ini ialah peningkatan gejala rasuah. Secara umumnya, lebih tinggi rasuah yang ada, lebih kurang kemerdekaan yang dimiliki.  �Kalau banyak sangat rasuah, negara akan terancam.  Kita nampaknya kini dilanda masalah rasuah yang besar-besar. Ia sudah menular di Lembaga Tabung Haji, Koperasi Angkatan Tentera. Dulu kita dengar kes rasuah sekali-sekala, tetapi sekarang frekuensinya sudah bertambah.  �Kita patut bertanya kenapa sekarang kita menghadapi gejala negative yang semakin membesar ini berbanding lima tahun lalu?  Kenapa orang Melayu mengazabkan diri mereka sendiri?  �Rasuah akan meracuni system kita.  Ini adalah sesuatu yang serius kerana mereka ini orang yang mempunyai kedudukan dan kuasa. Sekarang kita bercakap tentang nilai berjuta-juta ringgit.�  The only discordant note so far has come from the Gerakan leadership which expressed satisfaction with Malaysia�s 33rd ranking out of 102 countries in the Transparency International (TI)�s  Corruption Perception Index 2002, although the country has slipped from the already-poor 23rd placing seven years ago in 1995.  In my invitation to Abdullah, I had proposed the establishment of a national consensus transcending politics, race and religion on the war against corruption, and that he send a Cabinet Minister to represent him if he is unable to attend the forum.  An invitation has also been sent to the Anti-Corruption Agency director-general Datuk Zulkipli Mat Noor to the forum, where distinguished panellists like Tunku Aziz of Transparency International will also participate. (2/9/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman