WE should not deny the important of giving higher or suitable amount of salary to combat the issue of corruption. It is true that salary is not the only factor which give rises to corruption. There are many other factors that can been identified which lead to corruption like lack of education, understanding and awareness, lack of integrity, ethics, morality or religious consciousness, weak monitoring system and enforcement of law, sudden increase over cost of living, special treatment or protection from prosecution or punishment given to certain individuals and others.

The need to give higher or suitable salary in order to cope with the current cost of living is very crucial to deter corruption and any crimes that associated with it like power abuse and mismanagement. We cannot continuously give low or unsuitable salary to the workers in the country. Those who received low or unsuitable salary will be at higher risk to get involve with corruption because they need more incomes and money to support their daily means especially those who have big family to support. We need to be realistic, money is very important in today’s world in order to buy things and get services. Money is important for our survival. Without money, we cannot survive.

The announcement which was made by the government recently to increase the wages of the public servant is highly welcome. The government has also persuaded the private sector to follow similar footstep. The efforts taken to increase workers salary should be seen as a step to deal with the issue of corruption in the country. We need to accept the fact that the issue of salary and corruption are interrelated to each other. Both issues are inseparable. It needs to be address at the same time. If we want to reduce corruption, we must also ensure workers in all working sectors received higher or suitable salary to meet current needs.

What is corruption? According to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), corruption is the act of giving or receiving of any gratification or reward in the form of cash or in-kind of high value for performing a task in relation to his or her job description. Besides cash, corruption can also take shape in the form of gifts in-kind, discount offers, votes, services, job position or placement, loan and many other forms of payment for payments and purchases.

According to Section 3 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 [Act 694] gratification means (a) money, donation, gift, loan, fee, reward, valuable security, property or interest in property being property of any description whether movable or immovable, financial benefit, or any other similar advantage; (b) any office, dignity, employment, contract of employment or services, and agreement to give employment or render services in any capacity; (c) any payment, release, discharge or liquidation of any loan, obligation or other liability, whether in whole or in part; (d) any valuable consideration of any kind, any discount, commission, rebate, bonus, deduction or percentage; (e) any forbearance to demand any money or money’s worth or valuable thing; (f) any other service or favour of any description, including protection from any penalty or disability incurred or apprehended or from any action or proceedings of a disciplinary, civil or criminal nature, whether or not already instituted, and including the exercise or the forbearance from the exercise of any right or any official power or duty; and (g) any offer, undertaking or promise, whether conditional or unconditional, of any gratification within the meaning of any of the preceding paragraphs (a) to (f).

There are four main offences for corruption stipulated under the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Act 2009 [Act 694] namely soliciting or receiving gratification (bribe) (Section 16 & 17(a) MACC Act 2009), offering or giving gratification (bribe) (Section 17(b) MACC Act 2009), intending to deceive (false claim) (Section 18 MACC Act 2009), and using office or position for gratification (bribe) (abuse of power or position) (Section 23 MACC Act 2009). The general penalty for any corruption related offences is maximum 20 years imprisonment and a minimum fine of RM10,000 or five times the value of the bribe (whichever is higher) (Section 24 MACC Act 2009).

As leading agency in the country dealing with the crime of corruption, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission must play active role to deal with such issue. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission must constantly monitor the situation in the country and remind everybody, including our country’s leaders and politicians, not to get involved with any form of corruption. Action must immediately be taken against anyone regardless of their rank and position if they are suspected of being involved in corruption. If we are serious about preventing and stopping corruption in the country, each one of us must play our role to prevent and stop corruption by immediately reporting any suspicious activity to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission or to the police along with concrete evidence. – June 19, 2024.

* Muzaffar Syah Mallow is associate professor at the Faculty of Shariah and Law, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.