Abdul Wahid: M’sia’s success is proof graft not rampant

Graft busting: Abdul Wahid delivering his closing remarks during the IACC in Putrajaya.

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia’s economic success is proof that corruption is not widespread here, said Minister in the Prime Minister Department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar.

He said no country would be able to sustain the progress Malaysia had made if corruption was endemic in the system.

He said this does not mean corruption doesn’t exist but he attested to the independence of the Malays­ian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Wahid said MACC was not afraid to take his statements while he was in the private sector and as minister.

“After the opening ceremony of this event, a few MACC officers came to my office to record my statements about transactions while in the private sector.

“This shows they work without fear or favour,” he said in his closing remarks at the 16th Anti-Corruption Conference, here.

Abdul Wahid said the truth about the issue would eventually emerge.

The IACC agreed and declared that Grand Corruption should become a crime of international law and those in the banking, legal and accounting industries who abet it must be sanctioned.

In its Putrajaya Declaration, the IACC said the corrupt should not be allowed to hide their stolen wealth, often done through the help of professionals in those industries that allow the cross border movement of those funds.

“The corrupt should not be able to use secret companies to hide their wealth.

“Banks should make every effort to comply with anti-money laundering laws and prevent money laundering from flourishing, while other sectors such as the accountancy and the legal professions should stop facilitating corruption.”