KUANTAN: Corruption is a universal evil that has nothing to do with any race or religion, says MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker.

He said attributing corruption to any particular community, ethnicity or culture was shallow and deviating from the truth.

“The truth is that corruption is a scourge and a weakness of mankind. Abuse of power has happened since time immemorial.

“In Malaysia, corruption mushroomed in the 1980s and 1990s due to several factors. Part of it was cronyism and nepotism.

“We must first understand the nature and cause of corruption without stereotyping or linking it to any ethnic group because doing that is too simplistic,” Ti said after launching the Kuantan leg of the Kafe Undi 18 tour here on Sunday (Aug 21).

PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had inferred that Malay leaders in Umno were not guilty of corruption and had been manipulated by non-Malays.

Abdul Hadi, the Marang MP, had said in a statement on Saturday (Aug 20) that the root cause of corruption in the country was due to the influence of non-Malays, who were in control of the economy and politics.

Ti, who is the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, said that no religion endorses or condones corruption.

“Malaysians must rise above race or religion if we are sincere in fighting corrupt practices. Looking at it by any particular race or religion is far away from the truth and is not on the right track.

“Enforcement, education, awareness, activism and empowering the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), which has been done, will stop this rot and damage caused by these corrupt practices,” said Ti.

He added that ideally, stopping corruption must start by educating the young.

“It is time we pay serious attention and effort towards eradicating this practise by instilling a fear of God.

“Secondly, we must uphold the law by strengthening enforcement agencies and also spreading public awareness. This should be the way forward and not just by narrowing it to race or religion,” said Ti.