KOTA KINABALU: Corruption cannot be wiped out through enforcement and penalties alone without addressing the culture and attitudes that allow it to become normalised, says a consumer group.
The National Consumer Foundation of Malaysia (YPNM) Sabah chapter said that continuous integrity and anti-corruption education must start from schools and extend into the civil service, private sector, business sector and local communities.
"For too long, expressions such as 'under-the-table money' have become familiar in society, particularly when people believe unofficial payments can speed up approvals or get things done," its chairman David Chan said in a statement on Friday (Oct 2).
"We must never allow such thinking to become accepted as the normal way of doing business or dealing with government agencies."
He pointed out that Malaysia's National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2024-2028 placed education among its key anti-corruption strategies.
"YPNM believes this effort should be expanded into continuous integrity education that reaches people at every level of society," he said.
Therefore, apart from strong enforcement, the community must build a social environment where honesty and refusing corruption is respected and regarded as a source of pride, he added.
The Federal Government can consider appropriate recognition and incentive programmes for civil servants, the public, businesses and organisations that demonstrate outstanding integrity or make meaningful contributions towards preventing corruption, he said.
He called for such recognition to be implemented transparently and with proper safeguards so that it does not become another avenue for abuse.
The objective should not simply be financial reward, but creating positive role models and showing that integrity is valued by our nation, he said.
A person who refuses a bribe despite having the opportunity should not feel foolish or disadvantaged, he said.
"That person should feel proud because he or she has protected public trust and upheld the dignity of Malaysia," he added.
He also urged simpler, more transparent and efficient government procedures so that opportunities for under-the-table payments and intermediaries can be reduced.
"Malaysia does not only need stronger laws. We need to build a generation that believes honesty, responsibility and integrity are values worth protecting," he stressed.
