VIENNA (Bernama): Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says international cooperation is vital in combating corruption and crimes due to porous borders, where money can be easily moved from one country to another.
The Prime Minister said Malaysia experienced this when funds were transferred from 1Malaysia Develoment Fund (1MDB) and laundered in the United States.
"We believe the IAACA is very important, because borders are now very porous. International cooperation also helps in reducing crimes,” he said in his keynote address at the 10th Annual General Assembly of the International Association of Anti-Corruption Authorities (IAACA) here on Tuesday (Jan 22).
In his 40-minute speech, Dr Mahathir said there were poor countries that could not become rich and develop accordingly because of corruption.
The Prime Minister said it was necessary that countries fight graft and make sure that their leaders were not corrupt.
Dr Mahathir said Malaysia was relatively free of corruption in its first 45 years after independence, but became highly corrupt in the last 15 years.
Meanwhile, on the Dr Mahathir Mohamad Fund which was launched earlier today by the IAACA president, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Hamad Al-Thani, the prime minister said Malaysia would contributing RM500,000.
The Emir had said the Qatar would start the ball rolling with a contribution of 1 million Qatari Riyal (RM1.14 million). The fund is to assist anti-graft officers who face grave risks in the line of duty.
The IAACA was formed in 2006 to promote the effective implementation of the UN Convention Against Corruption to which Malaysia is a signatory.
Malaysia was among the earliest to join the IAACA, which now has a membership of 140 countries.
Also present were Dr Mahathir's wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Senator Marzuki Yahya and IAACA vice president Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed, who is a former chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.
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