BUKIT JALIL, 9 Dec -The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is calling on students as future leaders to take responsibility for fighting corruption as an effort to make the country corruption-free.

The call was made by MACC Deputy Chief Commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Norazlan Mohd Razali at the opening ceremony of International Anti-Corruption Day (HARA) 2023 themed "Uniting The World Against Corruption", held face-to-face and online involving 500 participants at Asia Pacific University (APU).

"The government has introduced the MADANI Economy by setting one of the key performance indicators as a target to be achieved within 10 years by putting Malaysia in the top 25 in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

"This can only be achieved if this responsibility is initiated by us now and the next generation to be aware of the corruption issues that are happening and take appropriate action to ensure that we remain free from corruption.

"This role needs to be collectively implemented by the youth, MACC and other entities. Without one of the others, we will fail in our efforts to be in the 25th position," he said before ending his speech and expressing appreciation to the APU and the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities (MAPCU) for their cooperation in the success of the HARA 2023 for middle zone level.

At the same event, Datuk Seri Norazlan also presented prizes to the winners of best TikTok videos and Tiktok videos with the highest number of likes, organised by APU and MACC. The ceremony also announced one millionth participant that had been educated on anti-corruption, Nur Ain Atikaazwani binti Yusof, from Saito College, through the MACC program attendance data calculated from 2015 to date.

Also present at the event were Chief Executive Director of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), Datuk Parmjit Singh, Director of MACC Community Education Division (PenMas), TPj Nazli Rasyid Haji Sulong and State MACC Directors.