THE CULTURE THAT WILL KILL MALAYSIA

July 30, 2009 18:01 PM

Study Shows Students' Perception Of Corruption Alarming

KOTA BAHARU, July 30 (Bernama) -- Kelantan State Secretary Datuk Mohd Aiseri Alias said he was worried with a survey that showed university students had no qualms about accepting and giving bribes.

He said the survey conducted by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) showed that 30.5 per cent of the students interviewed were willing to accept bribes if they have the power and the opportunity.

On the other hand, he said 15 per cent of the respondents were willing to offer bribes to facilitate business deals and 23.7 per cent more would do likewise to prevent actions against them.

"This is alarming as the wrong perception of corruption has crept into the minds of university students, who are our future assets," he said when opening the Public and Private Universities Enhancement Seminar organised by the Integrity Institute of Malaysia (IIM) at Pantai Cahaya Bulan here Thursday.

Mohd Aiseri did not mention the sample size and the background of the students surveyed.

He said efforts must be done to correct the perception by inculcating good values in the human capital development.

On the IIM, he said it was currently implementing the second phase of the National Integrity Plan (NIP) (2008-2013) to combat corruption, fraud and abuse of power in the private and public sectors.

Earlier, IIM deputy president Mustafar Ali said the society's perception on corruption, fraud and abuse of power had greatly improved over the past five years through the first phase of the NIP implementation (2004-2008).

Mustafar said the IIM was currently conducting a study on the society's perception towards the integrity of the media with the aim of promoting national integrity through the media and journalism.

--BERNAMA