THIS year marks the 56th anniversary of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), an agency that enforces anti-corruption laws and is responsible for undertaking anti-corruption education initiatives.
Since its establishment, MACC has focused on its function in curbing the spread of corruption.
In line with changing times, technology and human intelligence, corruption has undergone its own revolution. In the past, it was easily detectable, but now it is less visible to the naked eye. Corrupt transactions can take place without physical movement or materials. They also no longer involve hard cash but can even involve valuables or virtual currency.
As crimes and offenders become more sophisticated, anti-corruption laws in Malaysia have also undergone changes and improvements. A decade ago, anti-corruption laws focused mostly on individuals. Now, there are special provisions for commercial organisations to ensure that corporations have a responsibility to conduct business in an environment that has integrity and is corruption-free.
EDUCATING COMMUNITIES
If the laws are solid and internal control mechanisms are set, the next step is to educate everyone to despise corruption. There should be unity among all in agreeing that corruption is a crime and not something that deserves sympathy.
MACC has been actively educating each level of society to hate corruption. The Wira Anti-Rasuah Programme is targeted at the school level (primary and secondary) and the Angkatan Mahasiswa Anti-Rasuah has been adapted to higher education institutions. Beginning this year, Kursus Integriti dan Antirasuah has been made a mandatory course in the General Studies subject in all universities.
It can be said that efforts to educate and offer early exposure to positive values to curb corruption have been implemented at an early stage in education.
What about those who have left school? For them, there are many anti-corruption educational initiatives by the MACC.
Community engagement sessions are held with specific audiences. For example, programmes with youths are done via youth associations or groups. There are also face-to-face programmes that are race-specific (Chinese and Indian), as well as awareness programmes. These can come via billboards on the highways, online, as well as audio broadcasts.
GREATER COMMITMENT
Although efforts to educate the public have spanned almost five decades, the greatest challenge in stemming corruption is to obtain and retain public support. How do we create a commitment to battle corruption?
Ikrar Bebas Rasuah is among the easiest commitment pledges that can be done by the public and private sectors, as well as non-governmental organisations. The voluntary pledge by an organisation is led by its leadership and is aimed at sowing responsibility and commitment for all in the organisation.
Up to Oct 31 this year, 2,049 organisations (public, private and non-governmental organisations) had signed the pledge as a commitment against corruption.
To spur anti-corruption commitments from corporate entities, tax rebate incentives are offered in exchange for undertaking community integrity and anti-corruption programmes, effective April 5, 2021. This offers the best chance for companies doing business in Malaysia (including cooperatives) to hold such programmes with the community to declare their organisations' commitment to battling corruption.
UNITING THE WORLD AGAINST CORRUPTION
Dec 9 is World Anti-Corruption Day, agreed upon by 190 member states, including Malaysia, of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
The theme, "Uniting the World Against Corruption" stresses the importance of unity and determination among individuals to battle corruption, which can have an impact on a country's peace, security and development.
It is imperative that everyone be united against corruption, given that one of the aims of the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 is to make corruption a risk that needs to be addressed.
Support and join MACC's efforts to combat corruption today by voicing positive views, messages and notes of support on social media by using the hashtags #hara2023 #iacd2023 #sprmpencegahan. Happy World Anti-Corruption Day!
The writer is director of Community Education Department, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times