MCA veep: Corruption universal evil not tied to race or religion

MCA vice-president Ti Lian Ker has reminded Malaysians that corruption is a universal evil with no link to any race and culture.

He said those who try to stereotype it along those lines were making a detrimental move.

"Firstly all religions are against corruption. All religion forbids corrupt practices and abuses of power not only from a legal but moral point of view too.

"In Malaysia, corruption mushroomed in the 1980s and worsened in the 90s due to several factors such as cronyism and nepotism.

"We have to understand its nature and cause without stereotyping and linking it to any specific group,” Ti told Malaysiakini.

The deputy youth and sports minister was responding to PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s claim that non-Muslims and non-bumiputera made up the bulk of the "roots of corruption" in the country.

"Attributing corruption to any particular community, ethnicity or culture is shallow," Ti added.

He urged Malaysians to rise above race and religion to fight the scourge of corruption.

"This can be done through enforcement, education and awareness of the rot and damage caused by these practices.

"Ideally, we must start them from young and education is the best way forward.

"It is time we pay serious attention and efforts toward eradicating this malpractice by instilling a fear of God into all when it comes to corruption," Ti said.

Shocking remarks

MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon also weighed in on the controversy and called the Marang MP’s remarks shocking.

He wants Hadi to take back his words.

“It cannot be emphasised enough that no reasonable person of sound mind would, nor could, ever link the issue of graft with race and religion.

“These types of baseless slander against non-bumiputera and non-Muslims are enough to stir up hatred, distrust and misunderstandings against them, in addition to creating ethnic and religious antagonisms,” Chong said.

Earlier, Hadi's remarks were met with a barrage of criticism from Pakatan Harapan MPs who said that his claims were unsubstantiated and were fanning racial and religious sentiments.

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