Yayasan Anti-Rasuah Malaysia (YARM) may be less than two years old, but it has mooted a novel idea in the country’s fight against corruption.

Its chairperson Zakaria Jaffar, who retired from his Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner’s post last year, has proposed that government departments, agencies and private companies install mirrors containing anti-corruption messages.

“We look ourselves in the mirror more than once a day. Hence, why not use mirrors and put up messages saying for example, ‘Did you help prevent a corrupt practice today’ or some other anti-corruption message.

“I am trying to change the concept of one who looks at others and not at themselves (mata hati). I am asking the society to use mirrors to look at their inner self and also stop blaming others in the fight against corruption,” he said.

Zakaria hopes that with the cooperation of the government and the private sector, this idea would become a reality. 

“It does not involve much costs as existing mirrors could be used. It requires one to look into the mirror and think whether the person could play a role to prevent or stop corruption,” he said.

Zakaria said statistics show that that between 2013 and 2015, 55 percent of those caught for corruption are 40 years old and below.

“This is quite an alarming statistics and requires the country nip corruption from a very young age. If not, the country will be destroyed,” he warned.

Starting the fight from young

For this reason, the YARM chairperson said the organisation is focusing on spreading the anti-corruption message beginning from primary schools.

“We try to inculcate integrity, good governance and other noble values at a very young age,” he said.

In so doing, Zakaria hopes that corrupt practices in the country can be reduced.

“Presently, we have 4,000 volunteer members nationwide and to be a volunteer you just need to fill in a form online at yarm.org.my. The public can also apply for membership and there are normal or corporate membership as well as lifetime membership,” he said.

Zakaria said there are certain fees for normal, corporate and lifetime memberships.

He added that while YARM initially started in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, it has spread to all states, with each of them having their own president and deputy presidents.

“The Pahang YARM president is a state youth leader,” he said.

Zakaria said he or YARM representatives are willing to go anywhere, including events organised by political parties, to conduct talks.

Despite being a speaker at a function held by PAS early this month, Zakaria denied that he is joining politics.

His speech turned into a controversy when he claimed the 1MDB scandal was not technically an issue of corruption, but one of fraud and investment.