Deterrent sentences, education essential to curb corruption, say experts

 

Transparency International Malaysia’s Muhammad Mohan said youths these days opt for shortcuts as they chase extravagant lifestyles instead of working hard, being prudent and building a bright future.

PETALING JAYA: 

More severe penalties and a focus on education are essential to curb corruption among young people, according to experts.

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Muhammad Mohan said the government should amend the law to provide for longer jail terms, while academic Mushtak Al-Atabi said case studies are key to making students feel the impact of corruption more vividly.

Muhammad said there have been cases of individuals getting away with a jail term of less than a month despite being convicted of stealing millions of ringgit.

Current anti-corruption laws must be amended to provide for stricter penalties,

 he told FMT.

The Anti-Corruption Act (ACA) 1997 provided for significantly more severe punishment than its replacement the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009.

The ACA Act mandated a jail sentence of 14 days to 20 years and fines amounting to five times the sum involved or RM10,000, whichever is higher.

The MACC Act, too, provides for a jail term of up to 20 years and a similar quantum in fines but does not provide for a minimum jail term.

As a result, the convicted person may end up serving just a day in jail,

 Muhammad said.

Last month, the MACC sounded a warning about young Malaysians becoming involved in corrupt practices such as bribery, money laundering, abuse of power and making false claims.

Its community education division director, Nazli Rasyid Sulong, said 2,332 people aged 16 to 40 have been arrested over the past five years for various corruption offences.

Muhammad noted that youths now opt for shortcuts in their pursuit of an extravagant lifestyle instead of working hard, being prudent and building a bright future.

This trend has been heavily influenced by social media, which glorifies such lifestyles and pushes many youths to take risks, thus compromising their integrity,

 he added.

Muhammad said the culture of integrity and accountability is seriously lacking among youths.

Today, corruption is deeply rooted in our society and ineffective anti-corruption measures, coupled with cronyism between political and business leaders, have normalised corruption. Young people rationalise this as the way life is supposed to be,

 he said.

To address these root causes, Muhammad suggested that Malaysia returns to basics and strengthens the weak value system among the youth.

He said the process should start with the parents who can impart basic ethical values to their children at home, followed by teachers at both primary and secondary levels.

Without this foundation, it will be too difficult to instil good values and integrity in the youth,

 he said.

Muhammad said youths who believe in transparency and accountability should also be used as ambassadors of anti-corruption and role models as a way to change the perception of corruption.

“Youths should be encouraged to reshape the culture towards working hard and earning an honest living instead of being overly dependent on subsidies and taking shortcuts by accepting or giving bribes to enjoy the luxuries of life.

Encouraging youths to speak up against corruption and be whistleblowers to report wrongdoings is also crucial,

 he added.

Mushtak, who is provost and CEO of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia, said inviting investigators of corruption cases to address students is another strategy to inculcate good values from young.

Teachers also need to be knowledgeable about the true extent of corruption and its ill effects on the economy and society,

 he told FMT.

He said teachers must develop the capability to create an immersive and experiential learning environment so that the lesson they deliver is understood and remembered.

This way, teachers can provide truly transformative experiences,

 he added. - FMT