JOHOR BARU: More than 80 youths have been detained by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for corruption in the past five years.
MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali said 85 people from the age of 17 until 24 were arrested from 2018 to 2022.
“A total of 37 of them have been brought to court so far, with 31 of them completing their hearing and were found guilty of the offence (they were accused of).
“This is why we hold programmes to spread awareness about such acts, as well as to combat corruption, abuse of power and misappropriation of funds,” he said in his speech.
Norazlan said this at the closing ceremony of the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM)’s anti-corruption programme here on Saturday (June 17).
He said the programme was organised following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of an annual allocation of RM5mil to MBM in May.
Anwar had said that the allocation is to enable the body to carry out programmes and to cover administrative costs.
Norazlan reminded that public funding should be managed with integrity, in accordance with financial rules and regulations to meet the objectives of the allocation given.
“Through MACC’s investigations, we have found several cases of misappropriation of funds and corruption in the management of public funding.
“Youths in the country are encouraged to work with the MACC and report bribes or any related issues to us,” he said.
Meanwhile, MBM president Mohd Izzat Afifi Abdul Hamid said the council would cooperate with MACC by appointing anti-corruption youth icons at the national, state and district levels to fight corruption.
During the programme, about 100 members from youth associations under the Johor MBM also visited the Johor MACC headquarters.
