CYBERJAYA: Young Malaysians must be discerning in distinguishing between perception and reality, particularly in matters related to corruption, says Tan Sri Azam Baki.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner cautioned that with rapid technological advancement and the influence of social media, society is often swayed by perception rather than truth.
“Perception is easy to accept, but reality is more difficult to digest.
“The challenge for today’s generation is to evaluate and balance between what is mere perception and what is the actual reality,” he said when addressing the Anti-Corruption Student Convention here on Saturday (Aug 16).
Azam said corruption has long posed a threat to the country’s development, with early cases in the 1960s involving law enforcement and politics.
Today, he added, corruption is more complex and widespread, particularly in the public sector, enforcement and business.
He recalled a 2003 survey by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia which found that 30% of university students were willing to accept bribes if offered a position.
“Imagine where those 30% people are now, perhaps as civil servants, businesspeople, politicians or even criminals.
“If the mentality of society is to condone what is wrong, the country will head towards destruction,” he said.
Azam stressed that political will was crucial to the fight against corruption, pointing out that nations plagued by systemic graft have eventually collapsed.
“History shows that if a government does not have the resolve to fight corruption, the nation will fall,” he said.
Azam, who has served in the civil service for more than four decades, also praised the country’s current leadership for steering Malaysia back towards being a respected nation internationally.
“I am not flattering anyone, but as a government officer, I can see that the leadership today is among the best to bring our nation towards becoming respected again in the world,” he added.
Thanking Multimedia University for partnering in the anti-corruption convention, Azam said the MACC could not work alone in tackling corruption and needed the support of all parties, particularly the younger generation.
“You are the ones who will shape this country in the next 10, 20 years. We want to build a generation that is creative, discerning and committed to integrity,” he said.
