KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has described fighting corruption as the most important ‘jihad’ or struggle for any government of integrity.
He said in the current political context, the level of people’s trust in the government depended on how far government leaders and civil servants could resist the temptations of graft and abuse of power.
“In a functioning democratic system, their actions will not escape people’s scrutiny.
“We’ve seen so many world leaders and governments being toppled due to corruption and abuse of power,” he said in his speech on ‘National Integrity Agenda’ in conjunction with the seventh anniversary of the National Integrity Plan and Malaysian Integrity Institute (IIM) yesterday.
He said efforts to eradicate graft should be done in a holistic manner, encompassing those in power as well as at the grassroots level. Muhyiddin said to move forward as a nation of integrity and dignity, there must be an all out effort to tackle corruption at all levels of society.
The deputy prime minister said the government had chalked up a number of notable successes since the integrity plan was launched seven years ago which, among others, outlines five key objectives, including fighting corruption, misappropriation and abuse of power.
Commending the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for taking action against individuals suspected of involvement in graft, he said this was a clear indication of the government’s seriousness in tackling corruption.
He urged all parties to cooperate towards making integrity a habit which would surely enhance the country’s dignity.
“Our ability to be a human being of integrity should spur others in the family or society to put values associated with integrity into practice,” he added.
Muhyiddin also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between IIM and Education Ministry and Telekom Malaysia Berhad, and launched three new books published by IIM. — Bernama