KUALA LUMPUR: The government has always viewed seriously issues on corruption and taken proactive measures to eliminate it, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan said today.
He said the government was committed to eliminating corruption and had made it one of the seven initiatives in the National Key Result Areas (NKRAs).
“Corruption cuts across all levels, it does not know skin colour. It leads to moral decadence, regardless of whoever commits it,” he told reporters after distributing pamphlets on 1Malaysia and the 2013 Budget to the public at the Jalan Duta bus terminal here.
He said the perception that only Umno was involved in corruption was not true.
“What is important is whether the government is doing something to eliminate it. If it does not, then we can attack and criticise (the government),” he added.
Asked whether Umno would emulate PAS in requiring its candidates for the coming general election to declare their assets, Ahmad, who is also Umno Information Chief, said the party had its own way of doing it.
On the setting of conditions by Hindraf for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to meet them, Ahmad said that should not be the way.
“Why the need for pre-conditions. The matter can be discussed during the meeting,” he added.
Hindraf had set a pre-condition calling the government to lift the ban on the movement before it will meet Najib.
Last Wednesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said that the prime minister was prepared to meet Hindraf and other groups to discuss issues pertaining to the Indian community.–Bernama