The battle is against a culture of corruption, says Rasuah Busters

SHAH ALAM - The court’s decision over former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday shows corruption and abuse of power will not be compromised, however, that is only a small part of the battle, Rasuah Busters reminded.

Its chief executive officer (CEO) Nurhayati Nordin said the battle is not against any individual but against a culture that needs to be changed in order to lift back Malaysia's identity as a dignified nation.

She also said the voices of the people should not be underestimated since they carry a big impact on the country.

“The combination of voices sparks revolution.

“Together, we can reset the compass of this country. #Rasuah Busters and its entire team will continue to ensure that there is no place for leadership without integrity,” she said in a statement.

She added that the government, civil societies and stakeholders should continue to work together with a coalition of media companies to highlight relevant concerns.

She said this is crucial since corruption is a threat to democracy and credibility, it destroys people's trust. Due to that, political commitment with a combination of people's power based on the rule of law is needed to curb the threat.

“The judiciary to defend the voice of the people who rise up against the tyranny of corruption," she added.

Yesterday, a five-man Federal Court upheld Najib’s conviction and sentence for the misappropriation of RM42 million in SRC International funds.

He was convicted, sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 28, 2020.

The ruling was upheld by the Court of Appeal on Dec 8, 2021.