PETALING JAYA: Corruption across government agencies will be tackled without compromise, with more individuals already under close watch, His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has decreed.
In a statement issued by the Royal Press Office on Monday (Feb 16), His Majesty stressed that graft is a betrayal of public trust and will not be tolerated in the country’s administration.
“Do not think the fight against corruption is only focused on a handful of departments or those who give and receive bribes. Even those in the Royal Malaysia Police, the Immigration Department, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and many others should be cautious,” he said.
“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is not spared either,” His Majesty added on his official Facebook page on Monday (Feb 16).
The King added that officers of all ranks, as well as middlemen and suppliers of equipment, uniforms and medical items, are within his “radar”.
“Do not think I do not know what is happening. I have my own intelligence,” His Majesty said, invoking the Malay proverb “who eats chilli will feel the heat” to underline his message.
The King stressed that anti-corruption efforts must go beyond rhetoric or cosmetic actions, emphasising that no one is above the law.
He also said immediate transfers should be carried out if officers fail to uphold integrity and discharge their duties honestly.
“If there are those who are unable to fulfil their responsibilities with integrity, give the opportunity to those who are more deserving and clean to take over,” he said.
The statement came amid heightened scrutiny following a recent Bloomberg report that sparked public backlash and concerns over alleged corruption within enforcement agencies and government-linked bodies, including the MACC.
