KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 — Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) has proposed the minimum one day jail sentence for corruption offenders under the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009 be reviewed to enable the crime to be tackled more effectively.

Its president, Datuk Akhbar Satar said it would be appropriate if the government reintroduced the minimum of 14 days jail which was adopted under the the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 earlier.

"We want corruption offenders to be jailed longer,” he told reporters after appearing as a panelist in the programme Wacana Sinar Harian Siri Ke-46 "Rasuah & Penyelewengan: Di Mana Maruah Kita?” here today.

The Anti-Corruption Act 1997 had earlier provided for a minimum of 14 days jail and a maximum of 20 years as well as a fine of not less than five times the amount of bribe or RM10,000 which ever was higher. 

The MACC Act 2009 which replaced the Anti-Corruption Act 1997 among others provides for a minimum jail sentence of one day and a maximum of 20 years while retaining the same fine.

Meanwhile Negeri Sembilan deputy mufti Nor Azamir Alias in the programme said the people in the country should be given spiritual education in the effort to prevent corruption and other offences.

"Fraud is considered a betrayal and a major sin. Graft is something which could affect the moral of the offender,” he said. — Bernama