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CORRUPTION is not merely a criminal offence but a destructive social toxin that robs citizens of their rights, impoverishes nations and shatters the hopes of future generations, Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye has cautioned.
Speaking at Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad’s 2025 Integrity and Anti-Corruption Day at AnCasa Hotel & Apartment recently, where he penned an integrity pledge at the Rasuah Busters booth, Lee urged Malaysians to reclaim the nation’s moral foundation.
“If Malaysia wishes to be respected, we must return to the basics, that we are honoured by integrity and destroyed by corruption,” he said.
He called on citizens to act as guardians of national integrity, beginning with personal accountability.
“Let us together become protectors of the nation’s integrity. Start with yourself. Uphold principles even when they are difficult. Reject corruption even if others choose the easy way out. Because a dignified nation can only be built by dignified people,” he said.
Lee stressed that the fight for a corruption-free nation must rest on several pillars, beginning with instilling integrity at an early age.
He argued that integrity education must begin in schools to ensure the younger generation rejects the culture of taking shortcuts.
Administrative transparency, he added, must be strengthened through digitalisation, open auditing and systems that minimise human intervention. “Protection for whistle-blowers who bravely report misconduct must be assured, while enforcement must be firm and impartial. Corruption can no longer be excused or tolerated because it is a betrayal of the country, the people and the future of our children,” he said.
He warned that legal frameworks and anti-graft agencies alone cannot eradicate corruption. True change, he said, requires a shift in mindset and moral consciousness among all Malaysians.
Government officers, he noted, must resolutely reject bribes, while politicians must never barter away their authority.
“The private sector must not seek shortcuts and ordinary citizens must not ‘offer’ payments to expedite their affairs. Every rejection of corruption is a victory for the nation’s dignity,” he said.
Leadership, he emphasised, must set the standard.
“Wherever they are, leaders must show example. Leadership is not merely about making decisions, but the courage to uphold integrity even when it is unpopular. Leaders with integrity build trust, while corrupt leaders destroy the future of generations,” he said.
Corruption, Lee warned, rarely begins with dramatic acts; rather, it often starts with small favours or minor inducements that gradually corrode governance systems, hinder national development and erode public trust. Even great nations, he stressed, can collapse when corruption becomes entrenched.
“We often take pride in achievements, but in truth it is honesty that earns a person respect. Without integrity, rank is meaningless.
“Without trust, power becomes dangerous. Honoured by integrity is not an empty slogan; it is a reminder that our dignity is defined by the principles we uphold, even in the most difficult circumstances,” he said. - December 4, 2025