Kuala lumpur: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, has expressed firm resolve to wage an all-out fight against corruption, stressing that no individual should be shielded from legal action. His Majesty said efforts to combat corruption must not focus solely on the bribe takers, but that those who offer bribes, agents or any parties acting in collusion must also be investigated and dealt with firmly.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, His Majesty stated, 'I have said before that I came to Kuala Lumpur to hunt down corrupt individuals, and it seems I have now found them. I am deeply disappointed that corruption cases have occurred within the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), extending to the highest levels. Perhaps after this, I should appoint only a sergeant as the Chief of Defence Force.' His Majesty highlighted that the issue is widespread, suggesting that corruption may also be present in other departments such as Customs, Immigration, and the police, and urged for a continued and thorough hunt for those involved.
Sultan Ibrahim delivered these remarks in his royal address at the opening of the First Meeting of the Fifth Session of the 15th Parliament for the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara. He emphasized that any elected representative, member of the government administration, or civil servant involved in corruption is a traitor to the nation for betraying the trust of the people.
His Majesty reminded, 'To all Honourable Members and civil servants, remember that the positions you hold are a trust from the people and the nation. If you abuse your power, misappropriate public funds and accept bribes or collude to protect bribe givers, you are a 'traitor to the nation'.' In this regard, he urged the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to conduct investigations swiftly, firmly, and thoroughly, regardless of rank or position.
Sultan Ibrahim also called for the government to provide experienced judges and special court channels to expedite the resolution of corruption trials. He reinforced that corruption must be fought on a large scale and encouraged the public to act as vigilant observers to report any form of corrupt practices.
His Majesty concluded by acknowledging Malaysia's achievements, congratulating the nation on its success as ASEAN Chair and the hosting of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur last year. He also praised Malaysia for its economic resilience, noting a positive growth rate of 4.7 percent last year, alongside low unemployment and inflation rates, and a minimal hardcore poverty rate of 0.09 percent.