DEPUTY Prime Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says investigations should focus on bribe givers as much as receivers to eradicate corruption.

Zahid, who is also home minister, said that bribe givers could be “overlooked” if perpetrators of the crime are not charged and punished.

He said it was unfair if the investigation, prosecution and punishment are only carried out on bribe takers, especially in instances where reports are made by the giver when they were dissatisfied with the returns expected.

“We should have a balanced opinion of the giver and receiver. We also frequently see that bribe receivers are linked to the public sector or government officials, who are charged after an investigation is carried out,” he said when officiating the Millenials Empowerment Summit 2017 in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Millenials Empowerment Summit, with the theme “Nation Against Corruption for Development, Peace and Security”, is a platform for the Foreign Students Presidential Council Bureau to meet and carry out networking between local and foreign millenial groups and the national leadership, besides discussing contemporary issues in the nation-building process.

The summit was held in conjunction with the 2017 Umno General Assembly, which begins tomorrow and runs until Saturday.

Zahid said the government supported the proposal by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to look at the involvement of the private sector, corporate bodies and individuals, especially entrepreneurs, who offer bribes to facilitate their business transactions with government agencies and departments.

Zahid said the authorities should initiate action and not act only when reports surface.

“Do not wait on rumours or reports in the media or online before action is taken,” he said.

Zahid also urged corporate bodies and the private sector to take the Corruption-Free Pledge, as carried out by ministries, agencies and government departments.

He also praised the MACC for its role in improving Malaysia’s position in the Corruption Perception Index to 55th out of 176 countries last year. – Bernama, December 4, 2017.