MCPF lauds efforts taken by MACC to tackle corruption
SIBU: Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation ( MCPF) lauds the Malaysian A nt i - C o r r u p t i o n Commission’s ( MACC) efforts to eliminate corruption to its core.
MCPF senior vicechairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said no one should escape, including high- ranking federal and state government officers and enforcement personnel.
He said the recent arrests by MACC had also exposed how those given the responsibility and trust were involved in power abuse and graft.
“MACC’s success in exposing various power abuse and corruption cases in the past weeks should receive the thumbs up from all of us.
“It proves that MACC is determined to ensure that the public sector is free from corruption by 2020, as pledged by MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad.
“During the International Anti- Corruption Day celebration in December last year, Dzulkifli said MACC would eliminate corruption in the public and private sectors and government-linked companies in three years,” Lee said in a media statement yesterday.
He was commenting on the recent arrests made by MACC to weed out corruption.
“Many of us were shocked to read about the arrest of 11 Immigration officers and staff in Sarawak recently, to help the investigation on corruption cases involving illegal immigrants working in the state.
“At the same time, MACC had also arrested dozens of enforcement personnel, including police personnel, for allegedly accepting bribes from illegal gambling and massage centres that are also involved with vice activities. “The collection of branded items seized from the suspects shows that they were blinded by greed and were willing to neglect their responsibility and put the country’s safety and security at risk,” he pointed out.
According to Lee, it seemed that various exposures made by the media have failed to deter those involved in illegal gambling and vice activities, which are mushrooming all over the country.
He said: “The latest arrests prove that we are facing a situation as in a Malay proverb, “Harapkan pagar, pagar makan padi”, which means that the enforcement personnel we trust have betrayed us for material gains.
“We should accept the fact that corruption is the root cause for various problems including vice and smuggling activities, drugs and power abuse.”
Adding on, he said it was impossible for the authorities to eliminate all these illegal activities if enforcement agencies are filled with greedy people who were willing to accept bribes in various forms, such as cash and branded items. Lee cautioned that such an irresponsible act would defeat the purpose of enforcement agencies and make people lose their confidence in the authorities.
“We have no other options but to fully support MACC’s effort to eliminate corruption to its core. No one should escape, including high-ranking federal and state government officers and enforcement personnel.
“I also agree with the MACC’s action to confiscate all the proceeds of corruption and return them to the government,” he said.
Lee stressed that such an action was necessary as it could help stop the culprits from using illegal proceeds to escape the law or allowing their family or syndicate members to enjoy the proceeds. He added that the issue of integrity among public servants was crucial as it is related to the administration, development and security of our country. The public and non-governmental organisations should also play their role to combat corruption by lodging a report with MACC if they have information on graft and power abuse, he said.
“We have to remember that MACC’s effort to eliminate corruption in the country will never succeed if we do not play our role to fight graft effectively without fear or favour,” Lee said.