The campaign to make it compulsory for police personnel to wear the 'I am against corruption' badge since late last year has proved to an effective method at reduce corruption, according to a government leader today.

Deputy Internal Security Minister Johari Baharum gave a set of figures after a demand by Chong Eng (DAP-Bukit Mertajam) to back his claims that the campaign was effective.

"In 2005, there were nine police officers and 46 police personnel who were found guilty of accepting bribes. This shows that the number has dropped after the badge campaign.

"In January and February this year, only one police officer and two personnel were found to be involved in corruption," Johari told the Dewan Rakyat in his ministerial winding-up on the Ninth Malaysia Plan this afternoon.

According to him, in 2003 and 2004 there were respectively 85 and 78 members of the police force involved in corruption which he described as a "small matter" since both statistics did not exceed one percent of the total number of police personnel.

The statistic was disputed by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang as it was provided by the police force and a shouting match ensued between him and the backbenchers, who in asking him to stop questioning, branded Lim as "old newspaper".

Chong earlier has quipped that the badge's motto which was written in Bahasa Malaysia 'saya anti rasuah' maybe misread as 'saya nanti rasuah' (I am waiting for corruption).

The deputy minister also said there is no necessity to set up a secret intelligent service as proposed by a government backbencher in tackling irregularities and corruptions at each government agencies.

Permit renewed

Replying to another query from Chong, Johari said Chinese daily Oriental Daily News 's publishing permit was renewed on April 7, striking out fears that the three-year-old paper may be suspended.

Under the Printing Presses and Publications Act, the government holds the discretion to grant, renew, suspend or revoke the permit of a newspaper. The provision has long been criticised.

The fate of Oriental Daily has been a concern among the Chinese community when the newspaper continued to publish for about four months without having its permit renewed.

The fears escalated after two vocal contributors with the newspaper, Lee Ban Chen - who is also a malaysiakini columnist - and Ng Chong Soon's columns were suspended, allegedly under government pressure.