PUTRAJAYA: Integrity is an important characteristic that a leader must possess to bring prosperity to the country.
Caretaker Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said it would be hard to argue against a leader when he or she was "clean" and free of any wrongdoings.
He pointed out that in Islamic history, when a person with good characteristics was chosen as a leader, that person would be able to bring development to a country.
"If the country is a developed country, the selection of leaders, who are proven to be good, will make the country an example to be followed by the rest of the world," he said after attending the monthly assembly of the Immigration Department here earlier today.
Hamzah said it was cruel of voters to elect a leader who lied, and a leader who committed acts which caused the country to languish in poverty.
He cited a verse in the Quran, in which Islam forbade the act of unlawfully accruing and accumulating wealth.
Hamzah, who is Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) secretary-general, said Malaysia could once again become an Asian tiger if all quarters chose leaders who were trustworthy, and capable of charting a path towards a better future.
He said one of the world's best known billionaires, Warren Buffet, had also highlighted factors that people should consider when evaluating a person.
"Warren Buffet said that when one evaluates a person, one must look at the person's intelligence, energy and integrity.
"And he also stressed that when integrity is non-existent, there is no need to look at the other two factors because they would no longer matter."
Hamzah said it was useless if someone has intelligence and energy, but lacked integrity.
"What I say is something all of us should think about. I apologise, I have never spoken like this, but during such times, I have to speak as such as I am a patriot who loves my country," he said.