Addressing corruption: Early exposure needed at school level

SHAH ALAM - Insufficient knowledge and awareness about corruption among young people are contributing factors to their engagement in unethical practices, warns Ikram Kuala Lumpur chairman Zainal Adnan Abdul Halim.

Zainal Adnan stresses that this lack of understanding leads youth to blur the lines between sincere gifts and bribes, making them vulnerable to manipulation by individuals with ulterior motives.

He further expresses concern that this indifference towards corruption may become ingrained as a habit in the future.

"It will make them think that the issue of corruption is not a big problem and it is more worrying that it will become a habit in the future.

"Thus, to prevent cases from continuing to increase, prevention needs to be done at an early stage, starting from the school level," he said.

To curb the rising cases of corruption, Zainal Adnan highlights the importance of early prevention, starting at the school level.

He urges the Ministry of Education to ensure that teachers receive anti-corruption training to provide early exposure to students.

"Teachers, being a vital influence on students who spend significant time in school, can play a crucial role in educating them about the issues surrounding corruption," he said.

Recent media reports have revealed that from 2018 to last year, 85 young individuals aged between 17 and 24 were implicated in corruption cases.

The matter was revealed by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali.

Zainal Adnan further suggests that the Ministry of Education should grant permission to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct periodic briefings and awareness campaigns on corruption.

Such initiatives would enable students to comprehend the dangers of corruption and the potential risks they face in the future.