A CORRUPTION watchdog says that introducing mandatory whipping would create a profound fear in potential corruption offenders due to the severe and lasting nature of the punishment.
This is because in most cases, the offenders do not appear to be deterred by prison sentences or fines imposed on them, said Malaysia Corruption Watch (MCW) president Jais Abdul Karim.
“Heavy and effective punishment will definitely be a strong deterrent to those who may think of getting involved in corruption,” he said when appearing as a guest on Bernama TV’s Malaysia Hari Ini programme yesterday (Aug 21).
“It is also important to restore the integrity of enforcement agencies and ensure public confidence in justice being served against wrongdoer.”
Jais was responding to the question if the mandatory whipping, which was previously proposed by Gerakan Revolusi Anak Malaysia (G3RAM) and supported by MCW, might be excessive for corruption offenders.
The proposal was prompted by numerous cases in the past, with the latest involving the arrest of five immigration officers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) Terminal 2 for allegedly facilitating the unauthorised entry of foreigners by bypassing standard procedures through a tactic known as the ‘counter setting’ modus operandi.
According to Jais, the arrest demonstrated the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) strong commitment to tackling corruption and abuse of power that have long plagued the Immigration Department.
“MCW strongly welcomes this effort, as it is a crucial step in safeguarding the country’s safety and sovereignty,” he remarked, adding that this effort addresses significant weaknesses in inspection procedures at the country’s entry points that have contributed to corruption cases. – Aug 22, 2024
