Akhbar urges stronger graft penalties
KUALA LUMPUR: Punishment for corruption cases should be reviewed to provide for heavier sentences as existing penalties have no effect on offenders, said graft watchdog Transparency International Malaysia.
Its president, Datuk Akhbar Satar, said heavier penalties should be considered as corruption was a threat to the nation.
“The Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC) Act was an improvement to the anti-corruption legislation and after 50 years of experience in dealing with corruption cases, there should be a review to make anti-corruption laws stronger.
“A higher penalty will deter would-be offenders,” he said yesterday.
He said the punishment for any corruption-related offence in the MACC Act was a jail term not exceeding 20 years and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification, or RM10,000, whichever is higher.
“If a person receives a bribe amounting to RM5,000, the penalty will be imprisonment and a fine of RM25,000.
“If another person receives a bribe amounting to RM1,000, he will be jailed and fined RM10,000 as the penalty charge on the value of the bribe amounts to less than RM10,000.”
Akhbar cited high-profile cases involving top officials, including that of former menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Khir Toyo, who was charged with knowingly obtaining a valuable thing as a public servant by paying inadequate consideration for a piece of property.
On June 8, Governance, Integrity and Anti-Corruption Centre director-general Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed had said that the National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) would be drafted to address issues relating to governance, integrity and corruption.
Abu Kassim, a former MACC chief, said NACP would replace the National Integrity Plan, which was launched by the previous government.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had announced that the government would implement a no-gift policy to eliminate corruption among government officers.