KUCHING: The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is stressing the need for a psychological approach to combat corruption, viewing it as a mental illness.
Sarawak MACC director Datuk Mohd Zaki Hassan pointed out that combating corruption requires a holistic approach that needs to be addressed from its root in the mind.
“Corruption is a mental illness. Healing the mind is more effective than just arresting or removing corrupt individuals,” he said when officiating at the state-level International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD) 2023 at Swinburne University of Technology here recently.
Zaki highlighted that corruption, a major crime, hinders social and economic progress, distorts the economy, and worsens income inequality.
“Corruption increases business costs by up to 10 per cent, affecting global economy and stability,” he added, citing the World Economic Forum.
He noted corruption’s role in conflict and instability, undermining democratic institutions and the rule of law.
“It exacerbates conflict, poverty, and illegal resource use, and even finances armed conflict,” Mohd Zaki said.
This year’s IACD, themed ‘Uniting the World against Corruption,’ featured a hybrid format with around 180 international students from various institutions in Sarawak, including the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS) and Curtin University of Technology Sarawak.
The event included a forum titled ‘Towards a Free-Corruption Generation,’ discussing youth’s role in preventing corruption. Panelists included Nazli Rasyid Sulong of Putrajaya MACC, law lecturer James Loi, and student Marc Harting Ajin.
IACD, observed on Dec 9 as per the 2003 United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), is part of a state-wide initiative leading up to a finale event in Kuala Lumpur.
