The reportedly accidental discovery of the illegal "Federal Special Forces of Malaysia" (FSFM) with allegedly 8,000 leaders and members of different "military ranks" throughout the country has again made Malaysia the laughing stock as well as a security concern of the world.

On the assumption that it is a merely a profit-seeking scam or con-job, it certainly shows how gullible or credulous many Malaysians, despite their middle-class status and relatively high education, are.

Of course, there have always been gullible or credulous human beings - males and females alike - all over the world. Lonely, insecure (especially for health reasons), greedy, vainglorious, socially inexperienced, emotionally stressed and psychologically troubled youths and elderly citizens are always the preys of charlatans. And there has never been short of smart and unscrupulous people who are ready and able to exploit their gullibility or credulity for dishonourable profits or sexual advantages.

However, the scandal of the so-called "Federal Special Forces of Malaysia" is not the simple and recurrent cases of some handsome, smart-looking and well-dressed men selling "cure-all" snake oil or "magical stones" to some wealthy, health-conscious but socially isolated or friendless housewives.

Not typical cases

It is also not the typical cases of some females being misled, under the condition of psychological or emotional stress resulting from family problems or failed relationships, into believing that sleeping with certain "exorcists" could cast the "devils" out of their bodies, and end all their personal troubles.

Above all, it is not cases involving the sale of "sure-strike" lotteries that promise instant wealth. These cases, however unscrupulous and criminal, still do not involve or affect, in one way or another, the integrity of the polity or the security of the nation.

However, still on the assumption that the FSFM scandal is merely a profit-seeking scam as claimed by some authorities, it clearly shows how widespread the popular perception of corruption inside state machinery, including security services like the armed forces, is. The fact that so many seemingly educated people were willing to part with their cash to purchase "military ranks" also suggests that monetary bribery has become an acceptable or normal way of life in Malaysia.

Seen in this light, it indicates that, at least in the minds of many Malaysians, the polity is already corrupt to the core because even military ranks are now believed to be commodities that can be sold to, or bought by, anyone in the streets who can afford them.

There is already the widespread belief, whether it is right or wrong, that royal titles and/or offices in political parties and social organisations could also be "purchased".

It is also indicative of a trend in Malaysian society that there are increasing number of people, especially the reasonably educated and well-off petit bourgeoisie, who are desperately in need for solidarity in uniformed, disciplined, cohesive and prestigious groups that promise to give them social recognition and public powers.

From a historical perspective, it is noteworthy that European (particularly German) fascism in the inter-war years bred on this social-psychological condition. (see Joachim C. Fest., The face of the Third Reich, London, Penguin, 1979; originally written in German and published in 1963).

Therefore, in a broader sense, the FSFM scandal is political in nature: it has revealed the width and depth of the popular perception of corruption of the state and regime, and a fascism-friendly social-psychological condition.

Removing the assumption, for analytical purposes, that it is merely a profit-motivated scam or con-job further suggests that national security is still highly vulnerable, although not directly or immediately threatened yet.

Real aims of FSFM?

At this point, it is relevant to ask the question of why did the "smart leaders" of FSFM, if they were purely profit-motivated or profit-seeking, not choose to sell cure-all snake oil, sure-strike lotteries or fortune-attracting stones? Or, why did they opt for an "enterprise" that is so risky, political in nature, or security-sensitive?

What is the real motive or objective of the FSFM?

The fact that the 8,000-people bogus "military officers" and "soldiers" had reportedly been in existence for about one year until it was detected 'accidentally' indicates possible intelligence failure on the part of the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Special Branch (SB) as well as the system of military intelligence.

What would have happened if the FSFM leaders and members, with the financial resources and technical skills some of them commanded (or still command), while not potential terrorists themselves, had already networked with terrorists (non-state as well as state-sponsored) from other countries, or politically animated by dangerous, anti-social and inhuman ideologies?

How sure are the authorities that there are no more such organisations or groups or that such groups would be formed and operated again without being detected in the future?

Is it true that the reported amount of fund the FSFM leaders possess come only from money collected from those who wanted to purchase "military ranks", or that there are no other sources of financing?

Any top patrons?

As no criminal, security or military intelligence should operate solely on pure luck in defeating grave threats to public order, and national, regional and international security, it seems that there is a pressing need to investigate the professional integrity as well as operational efficacy of the various organisations of intelligence.

Specifically, the operational systems of intelligence collection, collation, analysis and assessment (interpretation) as well as (inter-agency) dissemination have to be critically re-examined and comprehensively improved, revamped or re-structured.

The question of whether the illegal FSFM - which is reportedly said to be a splinter group of the legal Emergency Action Team of Malaysia - had any patronage from, or/and connections to, any powerful politicians at any point of time, has also to be unambiguously, convincingly and credibly answered.

Taxpayers and citizens of Malaysia are also entitled to know fully how many legally registered para-military groups like the Emergency Action Team of Malaysia, are here operating in the country. What are the powers, roles, functions, duties and responsibilities given to them by law?