KUALA LUMPUR: Action will be taken against anyone who has plundered the nation's wealth, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.
He said he could not accept the excuse that some people should be let off the hook for corruption because of their contributions to the nation.
"Everyone has contributed, village chiefs have contributed, community leaders and imam have contributed, but why should their contributions justify stealing from the mosque?
"It cannot be that way," he said in a speech at the 100 Years of Za'aba Seminar in Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, Perak.
"Why should a finance minister think that just because they have contributed (to the nation) they can steal billions of ringgit?," he said, without naming anyone.
Anwar advised those who have stolen billions from the country to return their ill-gotten gains if they still considered themselves as "warriors".
Previously, Anawr said corruption was the "main cancer" affecting the country and the people.
In May, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the country lost around RM55 billion a year due to corruption.