Young civil servants make up 50% of those guilty of graft: MACC

PUTRAJAYA: Half of Malaysian government officers found guilty of graft are under the age of 40, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) revealed today.
Its Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil said the high number of corruption cases among young civil servants was due to their demanding lifestyle.
"Some of our cases have shown that junior government officers and clerks can afford to buy the latest iPhone models and drive expensive cars.
"This is despite their salaries which under the government pay scale is meagre and does not match their lifestyle," he said when speaking during a joint-forum with the Rural and Regional Development Ministry here, today.
Statistics from MACC revealed that between 2014 to 2016, 2,329 arrests were made for graft, 54% or 1,267 people aged 40 and below.
Civil servants comprised half of 1,267 people arrested for graft.
Meanwhile, MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner Datuk Azam Baki said MACC has set a three-year target to eradicate corruption in the public sector.
"The level of corruption in the country is getting serious based on our statistics. From the 665 investigation papers filed against government officers last year, we have detained 549 civil servants for graft as of February 2017.
"This is due to MACC adopting a more aggressive stance in combating graft among civil servants since last August," he added.
Azam said MACC has set a three-year target to clean up the Malaysian public sector.
The MACC and the ministry's joint-forum was also attended by Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
In an effort to eradicate corruption, Ismail Sabri said 80% of officers in his ministry especially those holding sensitive posts have been put on rotation.
"Those in sensitive posts such as director-general, under-secretary for Finance, Development and Facilities for instance will be rotated after serving their duties for a maximum period of six years.
"This is part of our pledge to uphold integrity in the ministry," he said.