'The education world is honourable, don't tarnish it with corruption'

SHAH ALAM - Leaders or administrators who shoulder important roles must become an example of implementing their responsibilities by applying the principles of good governance and rejecting corruption.

Selangor, Federal Territories and Putrajaya State Rasuah Busters chairman Professor Dr Hamdan Daniel M Sharib said the report regarding the arrest of a school headmaster and chief administrative assistant for being suspected of complicity in soliciting and accepting bribes is something difficult to accept.

“Realise that the position of the education world is noble, don’t tarnish it with greedy hands that take bribes for a livelihood.

“There must be awareness and guilt felt if involved in corruption,” he told Sinar on Tuesday.

On Monday, Sinar had reported that the Kluang Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Branch arrested a school headmaster and the chief administrative assistant under suspicion of asking and receiving bribes of over RM17,000.

Sources said the man aged 53 years old and the 50-year-old woman suspect were arrested at the Kluang MACC Branch at 7pm on Monday after providing statements.

It was reported that the suspect had asked and received the bribes from a contractor as a response to providing fence maintenance works at the school dormitory to the company owned by the contractor in January.

Johor MACC director Datuk Azmi Alias when contacted confirmed the arrest and said the case was investigated under Section 17 (a) of the MACC Act 2009.

Both suspects were then released with MACC bail.

Hamdan said the efforts against corruption must be intensified because the corruption practices have become a virus that’s becoming increasingly difficult to contain.

“That’s why there’s hope for every Malaysian, regardless of status or position in an organisation to rise and reject corruption at its roots.

“This could be translated by making a healthy lifestyle without corruption in any shape or form,” he said.