Kuala Lumpur – In a fervent denouncement, Datuk Seri Dr. KK Chai, the esteemed President of the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall (KLCAH), has lashed out against politicians who are manipulating facts and peddling divisive narratives in Malaysia. These politicians have resorted to distorting and presenting inaccurate data, even going so far as to wrongly label the Chinese community as the most corrupt ethnic group, all in the pursuit of their own vested political interests.
He said, in reality, corruption involves individuals from all ethnic backgrounds. However, the cases that are discovered and prosecuted often reveal that bribe givers are predominantly non-Malays, while bribe takers are more often Malays. This skewed perception in the data arises due to the proportion of civil servants and business communities within each ethnic group, as bribe givers typically seek to gain advantages through their bribes.
“Corruption is a severe ‘illness,’ and all ethnicities must treat it seriously. Otherwise, foreign investors will lose confidence in our country because they will perceive the cost of doing business here as more expensive compared to other countries.”
He reiterated that the question of which ethnicity is more corrupt should not be the focus, as both giving and receiving bribes constitute criminal acts, and combating corruption is the responsibility of all citizens.
He made these remarks during his speech at the dialogue event organized by the KLCAH’s Youth Division on Saturday. The event’s organizing committee chairperson was Eva Wong, and other attendees included the advisor to KLCAH honorary advisor Datuk Seri Michael Chong, and the Youth Division’s Chief Kevin Kan, among nearly a hundred participants.
The theme of the dialogue event was, “If Employees, Management, or Directors Are Involved in Bribery, Will Employers Also Face Consequences?” The keynote speaker was Deputy Director of MACC KL (Prevention) officer Cheong Zhit Hou Superintendent.
Datuk Seri Dr KK Chai also pointed out that the purpose of the dialogue event was to provide practical insights by delving into key provisions of Malaysia’s anti-corruption laws and enforcement agencies. This would enable attendees to stay updated on the latest legal requirements and trends.
“We hope that through such dialogue events, we can assist everyone in building strong defenses, learning to establish and implement comprehensive anti-corruption policies and internal control mechanisms. This will ensure that businesses maintain integrity and are less susceptible to corruption.”
He also cited a famous quote from the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates: “Honesty is the foundation of wisdom,” advising attendees that by upholding honesty and adhering to the law in the business world, they can contribute to a more prosperous and enlightened future for both businesses and the nation.