01/09/2026
I love this...
JEWELS UNDER THE SADDLE
(Or how to explain the meaning of INTEGRITY to a child. And to those people from the previous administration who are today facing trial in Malaysia's courts for thievery, and who are completely devoid of Integrity, Honesty, Honour and Morality, which I consider to be the Bedrock of Leadership.)
Once upon a time, there was a merchant who went to a market to buy a camel to add to his large herd of camels. He came across a fine specimen of a camel that was on sale.
The merchant and the camel seller were both skilled negotiators. They haggled animatedly on the price of the camel. Eventually they both agreed on a price for the camel. The camel seller was very pleased with his skill of getting what he felt was a very good price, so he happily parted with his camel.
The merchant who bought the camel was chuffed that he had struck such a fantastic bargain. So he happily and proudly walked home with the latest addition to his large herd of camels.
On arriving home, the merchant called his camel minder servant to come and help him take down the camel's saddle. The unwieldy, heavily padded saddle, was too heavy and too difficult for the merchant to manage the task on his own.
Upon removing the saddle, they were both surprised to find a small velvet pouch under the saddle. Upon opening the pouch they were astounded to discover that the pouch was filled with diamonds, and some very precious jewels.
The camel minder was very excited. He cried out, "Master, you are very clever, and very, very lucky. You bought a camel.....but see what came FREE along with it !!"
The merchant was astonished as he looked at the beautiful, and obviously very valuable jewels in the velvet pouch. They were of extraordinary quality, and they sparkled and twinkled in the desert sunlight.
Solemnly, he said, "I bought the camel, but NOT the jewels. I must return these jewels to the camel seller immediately."
The camel minder was aghast.....he felt his master was really foolish. "Master.....no one will know."
But the merchant headed straight back to the market. He found the camel seller, and handed the velvet pouch back to the camel seller. "I found these jewels under the saddle of the camel I bought from you. They are yours and I am returning them to you."
The camel seller was delighted, and hugged the merchant. He said, " I had forgotten that I hid these jewels under the saddle for safe keeping." "Here, choose any one of these jewels for yourself, as a reward."
The merchant said "I paid a fair price for the camel, and the camel only, so NO thank you, I do not need any reward."
But as much as the merchant refused, the camel seller insisted.
Finally the merchant, sheepishly smiling, said "Actually when I decided to bring the pouch of jewels back to you, I already took two of the most precious jewels, and kept them for myself."
At this confession the camel seller was a bit flabbergasted, and he quickly emptied the pouch to count his jewels. He was quite confused. He said, "All my jewels are here. Which jewels did you keep?"
"The two most precious ones." said the merchant.
"My INTEGRITY and my SELF-RESPECT."
This is what INTEGRITY means.
A more formal definition of Integrity is as follows:
Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.
