PUTRAJAYA, Oct 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has officially launched a national-level anti-corruption advocacy programme, ‘Keep Malaysia Clean’, aimed at shaping public behaviour and preventing corruption before it starts.
Anwar said a country, no matter how great or prestigious, cannot sustain itself if leakages persist — noting that throughout history the rise and fall of civilisations have often been tied to malgovernance and corruption.
“That is why elevating Malaysia into a prestigious nation requires a strong political will and firm enforcement by its ruling government, with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) serving as one of the key pillars in upholding and safeguarding that ideal.
“I strongly believe that MACC, under Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki and the agency’s personnel, has the capability to become a profound, effective and courageous institution in bringing back Malaysia’s esteemed image,” he said during the programme’s official launch held in conjunction with the MACC’s 58th anniversary celebration here.
Earlier, Azam said the KMC programme — designed to engage all segments of society — aims to foster a civic-minded society that actively rejects corruption.
“A corruption-free society is key towards a cleaner Malaysia and this initiative is a national movement based on a collective commitment against corrupt practices at all levels of government and society,” he said in his speech.
MACC Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki speaks at the launch of the Keep Malaysia Clean Blueprint held in conjunction with the agency’s 58th anniversary celebration at Dewan Seri Endon, Puspanitapuri. — Picture by Yusof Isa
The KMC programme is conceived by MACC’s Consultative and Corruption Prevention Panel (PPPR), one of five external oversight bodies set up to provide checks and balances on the agency.
It is anchored in three core pillars: Clean Values (nurturing honesty and responsibility), Clean Society (strengthening integrity within communities) and Clean Environment (safeguarding the environment and ensuring sustainable national development).
According to PPPR chair Datin Yasmin Ahmad Merican, the KMC is not a new approach to corruption prevention, but rather a platform that complements existing initiatives, reinforced by the goodwill and contribution of Malaysians.
In the immediate to short term, KMC will focus on building public participation through education and community involvement, with the long-term goal of instilling a culture of integrity across all Malaysians.
