KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) has hailed the initiative of Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) in offering the credit-eligible course on integrity and corruption for students pursuing their first degree, saying it is in line with the nation’s efforts to combat corruption and malpractices.
MCPF senior vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, in
lauding the move, proposed
that other learning institutions take the cue and introduce
similar programmes for their students.
“A study conducted by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on 1,000 university students found that
16 percent of them were willing to accept bribes and 18.5
percent would receive bribes if they did not have to deal with any action.
“Another survey, on Student Perception of Corruption, run by the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) revealed that
one in every three local university students thought that receiving
a gift in the form of money,
goods or services in return for
services rendered is not corruption,” he told Bernama yesterday.
Lee said the survey also showed that 28.1 percent of respondents were of the opinion that it would not be an offence for them to
take company property such as pen drive, printer ink or paper for their personal use.
“The element of anti-corruption education must also be incorporated into the school curriculum under the subject of religion and moral education,” he said.
UKM vice-chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Hamdi Abd Shukor had said that the UKM Integrity and Corruption course, for 120 students this year, involved 14 weeks of lectures and one week of examination.
“In the fight against corruption, emphasis should be given at an early stage where we can educate students to look with disdain at corruption as they are taught to hate drugs,” he had said. – Bernama
