Close to half of Chinese Malaysian youths do not know of the existence of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), a survey has found.

The survey conducted by MACC had polled 200 Chinese youths last year, and found that 48 percent were unaware of the anti-graft body, even by its name in Chinese - Fan Tan Hui .

Community Education Division director Shamshun Baharin Mohd Jamil said there is also concern that the youths, surveyed nationwide and mainly in urban areas, were unclear over what constitutes corruption.

“... if they are unaware of the existence of MACC, they might not be aware of the offence of corruption,” he told reporters today.

“They don't know what can be considered a gift and what is considered a bribe.”

Shamsun Baharin admitted that the MACC had not fully engaged the community prior to the survey, due to communication problems.

“For example, in my division we have 94 officers and only three are Chinese,” he said, adding that Chinese officers make up 10 percent of the MACC workforce.

To overcome this, he said, the MACC is in the midst of hiring additional Chinese officers, to hit a target of 30 percent of the workforce.

It is also engaging Chinese-based NGOs to improve awareness of the commission's work, while its Mandarin-language website will be up later this year.

Shamsun Baharin, however, stressed that the focus is not because more offenders come from the community.

Rather, he said, the trend shows that 40 percent of offenders from 2002-2012 are aged 35 and below.

“This is why we are now also focusing on students. Since 2007 we have had an anti-corruption secretariat made up of students from public universities (and) teaching institutes,” he said.

Campaign launched

The commission has launched an 'Anti-Corruption Warrior' campaign at SJK(C) Ladang Harcroft in Puchong, involving 1,133 students, to raise awareness among Chinese youths at school level.

The students have received goodie bags containing anti-corruption reading materials, including a comic book.

“MACC officers have shared real-life stories with the students to encourage them to practise integrity,” Shamsun Baharin said.

The students have to sign a pledge to live a life of integrity and to seek the endorsement of their parents or guardians, so as to spread the anti-corruption message to the community.