KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 — The government is targeting to clean up all forms of power abuse and the "mess" caused by corruption within the next two to three years, especially those involving "big sharks" or high-profile individuals.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said this commitment requires uncompromising strictness towards any party involved, be it those in power or retirees.
“I think if possible, within two or three years, we'll clean up the mess. The message is clear: whether you are a minister, chief secretary, or director-general, if there is misconduct, we’ll come after you.
"If not today, then tomorrow. If not tomorrow, next year. Even if you are retired, if we find evidence from when you were in power, we’ll come after you."
“As was proposed earlier that if we want to further strengthen the Royal Malaysia Police or other enforcement bodies, I have no objection,” he said during the Madani Malaysian Intellectuals Forum (FIM) Series 8, which featured the topic 'Integrity and National Leadership: Commitment and Holistic and Systemic Reform' here last.
Anwar also highlighted the difficulty of tackling high-profile corruption, noting that "big sharks" often yield vast resources and influence, including among the media and political leadership.
However, the prime minister said action against low-profile perpetrators, or "ikan bilis", will not be neglected, adding that cleanup efforts will continue despite facing resistance.
“If you look at the priority I've given to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), it's the ‘big sharks’ first. But that doesn’t mean we should let the ‘ikan bilis’ to roam around until they become too big,” he said.
Anwar also questioned the attitude of some MPs who appear to remain silent and even defend corrupt perpetrators despite evidence of billions of ringgit in wealth being illegally accumulated.
He said the act of stealing the nation's wealth is a form of hypocrisy that cannot be forgiven.
“The issue of me being imprisoned, beaten, humiliated, I can forgive that. But stealing from the country, billions (of ringgit), that is honestly hypocrisy."
“If there is evidence, it's up to the MACC to investigate and the judge to decide. It’s none of my business. My business is that the money taken and the billions (of ringgit) in illegal wealth amassed must be returned to the people."
Meanwhile, Anwar said institutional reform must be comprehensive and supported by efforts to enlighten the people through values, knowledge and an appreciation of leadership responsibilities.
Earlier, Anwar moderated the FIM Series 8 held at the Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM), here.
The forum featured panelists including Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, IIM chief executive officer Datuk Ahmad Ramdzan Daud, and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's (UKM) Prof Emeritus Datuk Abdul Rahman Embong.
