Two thousand anti-graft warriors ready to do battle

PUTRAJAYA: About two thousand Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers will hit the streets nationwide to raise the people’s awareness on corruption and make it the country’s number one enemy.

The officers are “agents” of the Anti-Corruption Revolution Move­ment or Gerah initiative which was launched yesterday.

The Gerah campaign will be held on the first Monday of every month and will see officers meeting the people to change their mindset on graft, said MACC chief Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad.

Dzulkifli, who launched Gerah, said the move to bring the campaign against graft closer to the people would help in MACC’s efforts to eradicate corruption.

Gerah, he said, was a “movement for a social, cultural and moral revolution”.

“This is a social movement to change the mindset of the public on corruption and abuse of power.

“They must not only hate and reject corruption, but should also say no and take action against those who give bribes,” Dzulkifli said at a press conference here yesterday.

He hopes that in the next three years, there will be a courageous and bold society that stands up against corruption.

Dzulkifli, who was appointed as MACC chief eight months ago, said the agency aimed to meet 20,000 people during its monthly meetings.

He said bribery had become a norm, and although people hated it, they still practised it.

“They must not only hate, they should also say no to corruption,” he added.

Dzulkifli urged companies to report to the MACC on corrupt practices that they face during their business dealings.