KUCHING, June 6: Parti Bangsa Malaysia (PBM) is of the view that the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course should be introduced in primary schools and not higher learning institutions (IPTs).
Its secretary-general Nor Hizwan Ahmad said this is because it is easier to educate students to stay away from corrupt practices later in their lives during their formative years at the primary school level.
“Exposing the subject to tertiary students and making it a compulsory subject may be too late. 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 said in a statement today.
Nor Hizwan opined that if primary school students are exposed to the subject early, chances are they will be able to absorb the teachings better and practise what is taught throughout their lives.
He also noted that over decades, multiple corruption scandals have plagued the country causing leakages to the tune of billions of ringgit. Malaysia’s position on the Corruption Perception Index fell to 62 in 2021 compared with 57 in the year 2020.
“Besides institutional reforms, one important element in battling graft is changing the mindsets of Malaysians. Some of whom still feel that corruption is part of our culture or an acceptable practice.
“Changing this requires us to have a long-term plan that includes early education campaigns on the pitfalls of corruption,” he added.
On June 4, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Norazlan Mohd Razali during a press conference at Universiti Malaya announced that the Special Cabinet Committee on Anti-Corruption has decided that the Integrity and Anti-Corruption Course will be made compulsory in all IPTs from next year. — DayakDaily
