KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 30 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) urged Malaysians, particularly the younger generation, to embrace integrity and reject corrupt practices through the Keep Malaysia Clean (KMC) campaign, an initiative launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim earlier this month.
Speaking at a corruption prevention forum, MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki said the campaign is part of the agency’s broader effort to shift focus from enforcement to education and long-term cultural change.
“Apart from preventing corruption in the public sector, we are also looking at ways to curb corruption in the private sector. The youth must be taught early to value integrity, because they are the future leaders of this country,” Azam told reporters when met after a corruption prevention forum.
He said MACC will work closely with schools, universities, and the private sector to make anti-corruption education a national movement under KMC.
Datin Yasmin Ahmad Merican, one of the panellists, said Keep Malaysia Clean aims to involve every Malaysian in the prevention process rather than leaving it solely to enforcement agencies.
“Enforcement is doing very well, but if the whole country does not participate, corruption affects all of us,” she said.
“Here, we invite everyone be it schools, businesses and the civil service to join this nationwide effort. If we succeed, we should see our Corruption Perception Index improving next year.”
The programme, which began rolling out in early October, will first be introduced in universities, followed by SMEs, corporations and government agencies.
Veteran businessman Tan Sri Halim Mohammad, who was also present, said Malaysia must begin cultivating anti-corruption values from as early as primary school.
“We must start from the children. Teach them from the beginning that corruption is not good,” he said.
“In countries like Japan, children are trained to feel ashamed if they take what isn’t theirs. We must instil that same sense of moral discipline here.”
Azam added that instilling ethical values in youths is part of Malaysia’s long-term vision for a clean and prosperous nation under Madani governance.
“We are taking progressive and strategic steps now to prepare future leaders who are both capable and ethical,” he said.
The Keep Malaysia Clean campaign was launched on October 1 by Anwar Ibrahim, who said it symbolises a nationwide commitment to uphold transparency and integrity across all sectors.
