PARTI Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) has applauded the announcement by the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption that the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course will be made compulsory in all higher learning institutions (IPTs) starting next year.
“However, we feel that the Education Ministry should look into introducing the subject in primary schools,” said party secretary-general Nor Hizwan Ahmad.
“This is because it is during students’ formative years at the primary school level that it is easier to nurture them to stay away from corrupt practices later on in their lives.”
Nor Hizwan explained that exposing the subject to tertiary students and making it a compulsory subject may be too late and that by the time they are in their late teens or early 20s it would be harder to instil values like turning down bribes.
“And just because they sit for the subject in universities or score with flying colours it doesn’t mean that they will stay on the straight and narrow path in their daily lives – it merely means that they have a theoretical understanding of the subject,” he justified.
According to Nor Hizwan it has been proven easier to shape young minds than more developed ones.
“If students at the primary school level are exposed to the subject early, chances are they will be able to absorb the teachings better and practise what was taught throughout their lives. As the Malay proverb goes, ‘melentur buluh biarlah dari rebungnya’,” he rationalised.
Over the decades, multiple corruption scandals have plagued the country causing leakages to the tune of billions of ringgit. Malaysia’s Corruption Perception Index fell to 62nd in 2021 compared with 57th in the year 2020.
“Besides institutional reforms, one important element in battling graft is to change the mindsets of Malaysians, some of whom still feel that corruption is part of our ‘culture’ or an ‘acceptable’ practice,” Nor Hizwan remarked.
“Changing this requires us to have a long-term plan that includes early education campaigns on the pitfalls of corruption.”
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali on Saturday (June 4) said the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course would offer structured learning to enable students to have a better understanding of corruption and its impact, not only on themselves but also on the country.
Norazlan said during a press conference after the closing ceremony of the Anti-Corruption Convention at Universiti Malaya that the course will provide exposure to students so that they do not ask for or give bribes to anyone. – June 6, 2022
Main photo credit: Wacana.my
