MACC Wants Bribery Offenders Caned In War Against Corruption
The punishment was proposed by MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull.
By Jia Vern Tham — 01 Oct 2018, 12:52 PM
Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull wants the government to consider implementing caning for bribery offenders
Bernama reported Shukri as saying that caning reflects how serious the agency is in an "all-out war against corruption".
"If a cheating offender can be sentenced to caning, what more corruption... it will be more deterrent," Shukri said after attending a Yasin and Tahlil recital programme in conjunction with the 51st anniversary celebration of the MACC's formation at Masjid Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday, 30 September.
Section 420 of the Penal Code stipulates that offenders convicted of cheating face a maximum jail sentence of 10 years with whipping, on top of being liable to a fine.
Shukri also noted the lax implementation of punishment under the MACC Act 2009
"The 20 years imprisonment is the maximum sentence (under MACC Act 2009), but most of them (bribery offenders) will appeal in court to the extent that some are jailed for only one day," Shukri was quoted as saying by Bernama.
According to Shukri, bribery also causes other crimes to happen, and the caning punishment should be studied in detail.
"I am serious on the proposal (of caning punishment)," he added.
Similar calls were made by the Alumni Association of the Administrative and Diplomatic Officers (PTD Alumni) early last year
Astro Awani reported PTD Alumni as saying in January last year that caning should be implemented on public service officials who are found to have abused power and are involved in corruption.
The group added that corruption involving large sums of money among public service officials was very "disturbing and damaging" to the reputation of the service and Malaysia.
"It should be noted that there are countries that impose the death penalty on public servants found guilty of corruption, especially those in senior positions," the group said.