TI-M: Anti-corruption efforts not receiving enough public support

KUALA LUMPUR: Anti-corruption efforts by both the government and civil societies in Malaysia is not receiving as much public support as it should, Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Akhbar Satar said today.
Akhbar said this is due to a mix of lack of awareness, fear of reprisal when reporting corruption, disillusionment of the system, and a grudging tolerance of graft.
"The lack of awareness on reporting corruption is the main issue here and the Corruption Barometer 2014 shows 49% of Malaysians surveyed will not report graft to authorities.
"Furthermore, 46% of those surveyed fear reprisals if they reported corruption, while 27% thinks there will be no changes even if they reported it, and another 27% simply do not know where to do it," Akhbar told reporters after launching the TI-M's Speak Up Against Corruption Campaign in Publika Shopping Centre today.
In his opening speech, he stressed that the public too must stop paying bribes out of convenience as there would be no receivers if there are no givers.
Akhbar also thanked the MACC and the Bar Council for their contribution in the campaign.
TI-M had established a corruption reporting help desk manned by a former magistrate judge, a toll free line to the help desk, copies of "Citizens' Handbook" printed in English, Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese, and Tamil that includes information on corruption and how to report it.
TI-M secretary-general Muhammad Mohan said the campaign seeks to encourage a culture of speaking up against corruption and to boost public confidence in anti-corruption efforts.
Muhammad said reports to the help desk will also be referred to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) after enough information has been gathered about the case.
He added that MACC has been actively collaborating with TI-M in their public workshops and community education programmes.
MACC community education division deputy director Abdul Samat Kasah said the anti-graft body cannot fight corruption on its own and the public need to speak up against corruption more.
"MACC is fighting a losing battle on its own, this is why we need others like TI-M and civil societies to speak up against corruption, and urge others to speak up to promote a culture against corruption," Abdul Samat said during his speech at the launch.
He said that the public should also highlight what could improve anti-corruption efforts and legislation instead of merely harping on issues without offering solutions.
Abdul Samat added that the MACC is discussing legislation amendments with the government to better combat graft but did not reveal much further as the list of amendments is still in the works.