KUALA LUMPUR: To save the country, corruption should be tackled without fear or favour, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said that apart from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the police had to also tackle the issue in a strict and brave manner.
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“We must not betray this trust. Once corruption becomes systemic, it will infiltrate the whole force,” he said during the speech he gave at the 217th Police Day celebration at the Police Training Centre here yesterday.
Anwar said corruption was also among the 3Cs – communism, corruption and communalism – raised by the third prime minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, in 1961.
“Even back then, the top leadership stressed that corruption would destroy the country.
“Our forefathers fought with their blood, sweat and tears for the country to achieve independence.
“This was not to then allow the subsequent leadership and civil servants to plunder its wealth,” he said.
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Separately, the Prime Minister said repairs and maintenance works for police housing quarters must be completed by the end of the year.
“The Home Ministry has been given the authority to hasten the tender process.
“The Finance Ministry has also been ordered to facilitate the relevant procedures,” he said.
At a press conference later, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said Kelantan, Penang and Perak will have new state and district police headquarters. He added that the ministry successfully completed 151 General Operations Force control posts last year with a budget of RM45mil.
This was in addition to completing the offices and residences of the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) members with a budget of RM40mil.
“Repairs and upgrades of quarters are also taking place nationwide with a RM500mil allocation, which is shared with the Defence Ministry.
“The Home Ministry also received an allocation of RM200mil, and of that figure, the police received RM98mil. The upgrading process is still ongoing,” Saifuddin Nasution added.
