PETALING JAYA: Individuals involved in the breach of the country’s territorial integrity should not be pardoned, says Tan Sri Azam Baki.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner said such individuals must be held accountable, while officials who use their power to allow illegal immigrants to enter the country should face severe consequences.
“They should be hauled to court, charged and subjected to strict action,” he said in an interview with Sinar Harian.
Azam said the government will seek ways to improve governance and establish a monitoring system to ensure compliance with laws by offenders.
“This can reduce their opportunities and chances. To me, instilling integrity should be done continuously because it’s not easy to improve human hearts,” he said.
Advocating for integrity to be taught from a young age, he said MACC addresses the subject through all of life’s phases.
“Our lives have three phases: school, university and working life. MACC addresses all phases.
“At the school level, there are almost no problems because they understand the importance of integrity, but not at the university level, leading to challenges in the working environment, which is what we face now,” he said.
Detailing MACC’s approach to raising awareness on the dangers of corruption, he noted its consistent campaigns that integrate integrity elements in schools and charitable activities in higher education institutions.
Recently, MACC collaborated with Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin to create the Anti-Corruption Student Corps, he said.
“MACC has also received government approval to make anti-corruption a compulsory subject in all private higher learning institutions.
“However, our efforts will not be effective without continuous support from the parties involved.
“This includes community involvement, NGOs or the universities themselves, as they should play a role in nurturing a future generation with integrity,” he added.
Azam also noted that the reputation of Immigration Department frontliners has been poor for decades, leading to negative perceptions among foreign tourists, and affecting the nation’s standing in the Corruption Perception Index.
“Our country’s image rests on the frontliners... when tourists arrive, they are the first to welcome them.
“If these frontliners have no corruption or integrity issues, then the image of a country stands out more. Unfortunately, the image of our frontliners is not good,” he said.
A recent joint operation by MACC and the Immigration Department exposed “counter setting” activities at the country’s entry points, leading to the arrest of 50 Immigration personnel (including a police officer).
Azam said the operation’s success relied on confidential discussions with former Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh, and internal department insight.
He also commended Ruslin’s efforts to address issues of governance, corruption and integrity within the department.
