Everyone knows that corruption is a crime; however, many businessmen take it as a tool to survive in the business world. It is hard to stop corruption, even for Christians! As Christians, how are we able to abstain ourselves from such action? If we were not to break the law, how are we able to survive in this competitive business world? Is it true that we have to sin in order to thrive?
Dr Nehemiah Lee Chee Hai who is the entrepreneur and owner of Nehemiah Reinforced Soil Sdn Bhd shared his story. His business is building walls and fences for bridges across rivers or flyovers. His business has stretched overseas to Singapore, India and Bangladesh. Even the Maradong Bridge that we used to call ‘Red Bridge’ in Bintangor was one of his projects!
Having been in business for more than 20 years, Nehemiah started from scratch. He now owns around 60% of this business. His business motto is “INTEGRITY”. How does he do it?
He was invited by the Sibu Methodist Theological Research Centre to speak at the Anti-Corruption Prayer meet on ‘Stop corruption, is it possible?’ Our chief editor of the Chinese Methodist Message took this opportunity to interview him on this matter.
Q: You insisted on ‘No Bribery’. Did you meet any problems in your business deals, for instance, in your tenders for the projects, or did you suffer low business? Could you share how you have held out all these years?
A: Don’t be so pessimistic! Actually we need not bribe in all projects. Many of my clients love my integrity. They entrusted the projects to me because I am trustworthy. They stated that, “I want my money for its worth, getting the best quality assured!” Thus, I have no fear of running out of business.
Apart from that God provides the way when we observe His will. There was once an incident when I thought I might not get the project as the person concerned insisted on some under-table money but I refused. So I had never had any project from that management. One day I met a boss who is a very close buddy of that unit and he put in a good word for me. From then on I have had no problems getting projects from them.
There was another amazing work of God. A client who spotted my advertisement in a Christian Magazine came to me. I acted on my honour and I accepted his request though he was a total stranger then. I had to put FAITH in that new Korean project. But he turns out to be a good client who never delays any payment!
You need money for bribery so you need to raise your cost for the project in order to maintain good quality. For me, this is an advantage as I can survive keen competition.
Q: Your business is a relatively small construction business, or a low-cost contractor, and so you could face less temptation from corruption! But for those big enterprises, could they avoid bribery?
A: To me, the answer is YES! But it’s a rarity. As I mentioned earlier, integrity is an asset to the company which I have upheld all these years. Compared to those badly corrupted countries like China and India, Malaysia is still considered a ‘clean’ country. So don’t be too pessimistic!
Q: What would you say of Christians who practice bribery? Can our church receive their donations?
A: I know it is extremely difficult not to be involved in corruption. I also understand that some fervent Christians are tempted in one way or another in this matter. Many who are devoted active Christians in the church or who are benevolent, generous in donation, may be compromised with harsh reality.
As how the church would deal with their donation, I can only say that in this corrupted world, you cannot really find totally ‘clean’ money. As with the incident I mentioned earlier, I could say that the man might be involved in corruption in some ways, but God has used him to help me to open doors for a clean business deal!
Thus, as Christians we need not use superficial testimonies to glorify God like wearing a cross necklace, but one’s behavioural testimonies are more important, and anti-corruption is one of them.
There was one incident when I was wrongly accused by the traffic police while driving. He told me to pay him off but I insisted I couldn’t. Then he asked if I was a Christian. I said yes and he willingly released me without further questions. He said he respected an honest Christian like me.
Q: Can you tell me more about your faith journey?
A: At the young age of eighteen months, my father passed away. I was the youngest among four siblings. I was not a Christian but my mother knew that a Christian school was a good place to educate a child. So she sent us all to a Christian school. Later, my mother remarried and our step-dad is a Christian
I became a born-again Christian when I was 20. But I felt it was a bit too late for me to receive Jesus as I had never experienced God before that. I was thus seeking what God was about and was busy with church activities, participating in all types of training, camps, thinking, they would bring me to experience God. It was not until someone told me that in order to experience God, you must first have faith in God. Only after I was 30 years old did I realise that God had long answered my prayers to know him and it was just that I had not been conscious of it.
Q: What was your purpose in starting your own business?
A: I ventured into business only at 40. Before that a job meant a tool for an income and I was more interested in serving the Lord. At 40, I felt I had reached some point of mid-life crisis. Then one day I heard God’s calling to start a business and to use my business to glorify him.
Today I am 63. When I was 60, someone was interested to buy my company and gave a good price for it. Then I could have retired with ease but God refused to let me sell the business. So I am still very diligent in my work!
I started my business not for other reasons but as a small candle light in this corrupted business world. I also hope that many Christians will see that it is possible not to give in to bribery.
Q: Personally you can persist in your goal not to bribe but what about your staff? How do you impart this value in them so that they won’t accept or give bribes?
A: Firstly, when I interviewed them for the job, I insisted on moral conduct. I asked them what ‘Integrity’ is and then impart our company’s motto and beliefs.
Of course, there would be some misconduct as well and soon they realised it and left the company on their own accord because they couldn’t fit in.
I have workers of other races. They know that I am a Christian and happily help me in my work and they feel proud to be part of my staff. They know that they are earning‘clean money’.