Malay rights NGO Perkasa today urged the prime minister and all top ministers and civil servants who are Muslims to take an oath on the Al-Quran not to be involved in corruption or abuse of power.

In a statement today, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said the government need not appoint more ministers to tackle corruption or illegal gambling problems, but should instead lead by example.

“They should profess that they are not corrupt, will not abuse power, swindle money, practise favouritism or lie,” Ibrahim said.

“The way to abolish any illegal activity, and bribery, is to lead by example, not to engage in rhetoric.”

Ibrahim also said Malaysia can enter the Guinness World Book of Records and Fortune magazine for having so many ministers.

“The more ministers we have, the more problems crop up,” he said.

“For the rakyat, they practice meritocracy, but they appoint ministers according to lobbying, friends’ influence, or to win some people’s hearts,” he added.

Ibrahim was responding to an Mingguan Malaysia report yesterday that suggested a minister be apppointed in the cabinet to specifically tackle illegal gambling.

Quoting sources, the report said illegal gambling was now “beyond the ordinary” in Malaysia.

Related stories

The state of Najib's cabinet

Najib ticked off for making senators as ministers

Mahathir and Najib - of leaders and listeners