MACC: Declare corruption, power abuse nation’s No. 1 enemy

He says ‘we must crack down on it with all that we have’

The agency’s chief commissioner warns that unethical conduct is rampant in enforcement agencies and among those entrusted with power.

THE Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission’s (MACC) call for graft and abuse of power to be declared as the country’s No. 1 enemy has been described as timely and a move which could lead to a mindset change among the people.

Senator Aknan Ehtook said the MACC’s call was timely as corruption had become the main barrier towards progress not just in Malaysia, but also the world.

He said graft must be tackled and “we must crack down on it with all that we have”.

“It is only right that the government declare corruption as the nation’s No. 1 enemy,” he said, adding that the authorities should review the current punishment and enhance penalty to reflect the severity of an offence, as what countries like China were doing.

Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low agreed with MACC’s call, saying that it would create a culture of intolerance towards corruption.

“People have always been aware that corruption is not good for our country. This (MACC’s call) can give us a better focus in fighting the scourge,” he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed said he believed drugs were the country’s No. 1 enemy because it destroys more people.

“While corruption is a serious problem, drugs is still the No. 1 enemy because corruption can be dealt with,” he said.

Aknan, Low and Nur Jazlan said this in response to a dialogue session which MACC chief commissioner Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad had with members of the Dewan Negara, on the sidelines of the upper house proceedings, yesterday.

Dzulkifli had called on the senators to push for the government to declare corruption and power abuse as enemy No. 1 in Malaysia.

He said this was especially as issues related to drugs, illegal immigrants, smuggling, leakages of national revenue, border issues, financial crimes, gambling, as well as prostitution were becoming more rampant.

He said these were connected to corrupt practices and abuse of power, which could affect the country’s dignity in the eyes of the world.

“All this things are happening because of corruption and abuse of power among enforcement agencies and also those entrusted with power. One of the reasons why they still exist is because enforcement agencies fail to carry out the responsibilities entrusted to them,” he said in a statement released following the dialogue, which also attended by Dewan Negara president Datuk Seri S.A. Vigneswaran.

Dzulkifli requested all senators to lend their courage and support and be with the commission to urge the government to declare corruption as the country’s enemy No. 1.

“It is also about time for everyone united in voicing out that issues concerning corruption and abuse of power are national issues which need to be addressed by all parties.” Additional reporting by Arfa Yunus