PETALING JAYA: Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) has urged the education ministry to look into introducing an integrity and anti-corruption course in primary schools.
In a statement today, PBM secretary-general Nor Hizwan Ahmad said it would be easier to nurture these students at the primary school level to stay away from corrupt practices as they are in their formative years.
This comes after the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption decided that the course will be made compulsory in all higher learning institutions (IPTs) from next year.
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Norazlan Mohd Razali said the course would offer structured learning to enable students to have a better understanding of corruption and its impact, not only on themselves but also on the country.
However, Nor Hizwan believes introducing these courses at the tertiary level may not be good enough.
“Exposing tertiary students to the subject might be too late, even if it is made compulsory,” he said.
“By the time they are in their late teens or early 20s, it would be harder to instil values like turning down bribes. It merely means that they have a theoretical understanding of the subject.”
Nor Hizwan said it was always easier to shape young minds.
He added that if students at the primary school level are exposed to the subject, then chances are that they will be able to better absorb the teachings and apply what they were taught throughout their lives.
“Besides institutional reforms, one important element in battling graft is to change the mindset of Malaysians, some of whom still feel that corruption is part of our ‘culture’ or that it is an ‘acceptable’ practice.
“Changing this requires us to have a long-term plan and that includes early education campaigns on the pitfalls of corruption,” he said. - FMT
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