'Giving money for votes threatens national integrity'

SHAH ALAM - Political leaders are urged to refrain from normalising the practice of giving money for votes in order to combat the spread of corruption.

Malaysian Islamic Youth Movement (ABIM) vice-president Zairudin Hashim said that such practices pose a significant threat to the integrity of the nation.

According to him, the practice violates the law and perpetuates a culture of reliance on rewards, potentially leading to corruption being accepted by the younger generation.

"We fear that if this behavior continues, the community will choose leaders based on the expectation of rewards rather than their commitment to serving the people once elected," he cautioned, speaking to Rasuah Busters.

On June 20, National Association of Islamic Students of Malaysia (PKPIM) president Ahmad Farhan Rosli said that any form of donation or charity with the expectation of votes, particularly during elections, constitutes a form of corruption.

Ahmad Farhan added that offering gifts in exchange for votes is legally incorrect.

In a related matter, Zairuddin stressed the need for stronger law enforcement to effectively address corruption and prevent its proliferation at the grassroots level.

He suggested that the immediate implementation of the Political Funding Act could help foster a greater awareness among leaders about the negative impact of money politics.

"Without robust enforcement, people may continue to choose corrupt leaders due to their expectation of rewards for voting.

"We urge the prompt implementation of the Political Funding Act to eradicate corruption in electoral processes," he added.