THE National Anti-Corruption Plan (NACP) is timely to arrest corruption in the country, said opposition leaders.

“This plan is good for the country. If corruption is not stemmed, it will ruin the country,” said Umno acting president Mohamad Hasan in Putrajaya today.

“We cannot wait as the anti-corruption sentiment must be made into a culture,” said the former Negri Sembilan menteri besar.

In a rare sign of unity, Mohamad and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang received copies of the NACP from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad after the latter launched it in Putrajaya today.

Mohamad said if Malaysia starts now, the country will be free from corruption in 20 years.

The Rantau assemblyman, however, denied that the previous government was corrupt.

“Not just the administration, but the country as a whole,” said Mohamad when asked whether the Barisan Nasional government was responsible for corruption in the country.

Meanwhile, Hadi only had this to say about the NACP: “Support, I support”.

When asked if he backed the plan, Hadi said: “Our joint responsibility (is to combat corruption). As for the plan, we have to read it first”.

Launching the plan this morning, Dr Mahathir said Malaysia must ensure that past corrupt practices that have marred its reputation are never repeated again.

“Never again,” he said as he launched Pakatan Harapan’s five-year plan to tackle corruption at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today.

“This government was elected because Malaysians could not accept corrupt practices that would destroy the country.

“Malaysians collectively used their power to reject the previous government and this is a stern statement that corrupt practices by government leaders and civil service are unacceptable.” – January 29, 2019.