THE report "Allegations of 'serious personal misconduct' against SCDF commissioner, CNB director" (Jan 25) is a shocking revelation.

It is not yet known if the two cases are related or how long the corruption, if any, went on before coming under probe by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau. But it is perplexing that this went unreported until a leak to the press.

It also goes to show that high salaries for our top public servants may not be a panacea for corruption. Businesses will always want to tempt public servants.

It is impossible to eradicate corruption; procedures are never foolproof and, from time to time, there will be bad apples looking to exploit weakness in the system.

CNB officers are also in a high-risk category as their work deals with illicit activities. The SCDF deals with all kinds of businesses - for instance, in the certification of fire safety.

There is often big money in such businesses, and it takes a strong man, even if he already has a high salary, to resist such temptations.

There is also no real whistle-blowing culture here, as whistle-blowers are not accorded secrecy when they expose malpractices in the workplace.

Some companies have put in place whistle-blowing processes but then fail to adhere to them; some do not even bother replying to tip-offs sent to the email address for whistle-blowing.

Moreover, most workers would rather mind their own business so as not to jeopardise their rice bowls; only the most sturdy would dare to whistle-blow for the sake of justice.

It is hoped that the outcome of these most recent cases will be a weighty deterrent message to all in the public sector to stay clean and honourable in their work.