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Petty corruption not at 'worrying' levels, says Paul Low
Petty corruption in the country is low, with only 3% of Malaysians having paid bribes last year, according to a Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) survey.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Paul Low said the level was similar to Japan and Singapore and, therefore, “not that worrying”.
Low, who is in charge of human rights and integrity, also pointed out that it was an improvement from the 9% recorded in 2012.
Despite the low percentage, the former TI-M president said the benchmark should be set at zero corruption.
“But as far as daily life is concerned, it is still not hampered by corruption, unlike other countries.
“In Mexico for example, 30% of the household income is needed to pay for services which are supposedly free,” he said told reporters after attending the launch of the Anti-Corruption Awareness Day 2014 and Principles of Life and Anti-Corruption Club (POLAC) at UCSI Kuala Lumpur campus in Cheras this afternoon.
On the worsening perception of corruption in Malaysia among those aged between 18 and 23, Low admitted that it took some time to change.
“I’m not trying to downplay corruption, but sometimes we have to really see what is corruption and what is not.
“There is tendency to blame inefficiency as corruption, some issue are pure mismanagement or genuine lack of skills.”
Low pointed out that in the last five years, society was more open to talk about corruption.
“This openness in our society is good, but it also leads to perception that ought to be backed up with evidence.
“Ultimately, we need to ask ourselves, have we paid a bribe?” he said.
POLAC is touted as the first ever integrity club by a private tertiary education in the country.
