By Mustakim Ramli
SHAH ALAM, Sept 1 — The court’s decision to sentence those offenders of corruption concerning influential persons is a clear warning to everybody to avoid abusing power, said Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
He said the judgment indicates that no matter how high one’s position is, individuals who practice the wrong culture eventually face the consequences of their actions.
“Let us not think that acts of corruption are alright, as long as it is not extreme. Yet today we can see the fall of a government has its basis in a case concerning the abuse of power.
“The court recently made a decision involving one such case, and today another case was also decided upon, with fines and longer prison terms for the guilty party,” Amirudin said.
He was speaking to reporters at the launch of the Integrity Handbook, in conjunction with the Menteri Besar Selangor (Incorporated)’s Corruption-Free Pledge ceremony for its business partners, at Dewan Raja Muda Musa in Section 7 earlier today.
The Menteri Besar said anyone serving in the government, or even a company connected to the government, must constantly be observed so they cannot engage in prohibited acts.
“We must constantly be aware that we are operating inside a proverbial glass house, in which all our actions in the front, above, behind and below will always be watched and scrutinised by others,” Amirudin said.
On August 23, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment and fined RM210 million by the Federal Court in Putrajaya for misappropriating RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.
Earlier today, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was sentenced by the Kuala Lumpur High Court to a total of 30 years’ jail and a RM970 million fine, in default 10 years’ jail for being guilty on all three corruption charges involving a RM1.25 billion hybrid solar project for 369 rural schools in Sarawak.
However, Rosmah will have to serve only 10 years in jail as Judge Mohamed Zaini Mazlan ordered for all the jail sentences to run concurrently.
