Malacca Chief Minister Idris Haron today dismissed allegations that corruption was a major cause of the state's high level of debt.

Without giving any figures, he said the debt was due to the fact that the state government had a responsibility to provide infrastructure to meet the people's needs, and it did not have sufficient income to meet the costs.

"There are many other causes (for the debt), including the need to finance water supply projects, sports infrastructure, small and medium industries, as well as low-cost public housing.

"Various other projects involving the construction of infrastructure had to be done through loans from the federal government," he said when replying to an oral question from Khoo Poay Tiong (DAP-Ayer Keroh) in the state assembly in Malacca today.

Khoo had asked whether the state government agreed that one of the main causes of the state's high debt was corruption.

Idris said the state government would allocate funds to repay the loans based on the financial status of the state.

He also said that he believed that corruption occurred due to lack of education on moral values and poor religious upbringing of an individual, which often led them to abuse their power or position.

"They are doing something outside the norm and, often, those who indulge in such vices are those who like to go against state laws and department regulations for self-benefit," he said.

- Bernama