[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) melahirkan kebimbangan yang amat mendalam terhadap peningkatan jumlah individu yang didakwa di mahkamah atas kesalahan berkaitan rasuah dari 2025 hingga awal 2026.
Jumlah rasuah yang terlibat mencecah berbilion ringgit, dana yang boleh memberi manfaat kepada orang ramai melalui penyelenggaraan atau menaik taraf infrastruktur, dan bukannya yang didedahkan oleh pegawai Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) yang tidak dapat dikesan dalam bentuk tunai, barangan bernilai, aset dan akaun bank.
Pada 2025 sahaja, SPRM merekodkan lebih RM8.4bn dalam tindakan mendapatkan semula aset, lebih 1,100 tangkapan dan hampir 200 sabitan kerana SPRM telah meningkatkan tindakan yang lebih keras terhadap rasuah, salah guna kuasa dan jenayah kewangan.
Pada tahun yang sama, SPRM membuka 6,114 kertas siasatan, melakukan 966 tangkapan, memfailkan 1,128 pertuduhan, memperoleh 445 pendakwaan dan memperoleh 189 sabitan.
Daripada mereka yang ditahan, dilaporkan bahawa 423 adalah penjawat awam, 163 daripada sektor swasta, 504 orang awam, 34 dikaitkan dengan syarikat berkaitan kerajaan dan empat orang ahli politik.
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Kes baru-baru ini termasuk bekas pemimpin kanan tentera, dengan bekas panglima tentera darat didakwa kerana pengubahan wang haram dan bekas panglima angkatan tentera yang didakwa kerana salah guna kuasa, jenayah pecah amanah dan menerima rasuah.
Melalui aktiviti yang didakwa itu, mereka yang sepatutnya mendapat manfaat daripada projek awam sebaliknya dinafikan daripadanya.
Ini menandakan kali pertama dalam sejarah Malaysia bahawa individu yang memegang jawatan kepimpinan tertinggi tentera negara telah secara rasmi didakwa dengan rasuah dan kesalahan berkaitan.
Rasuah sering dikaitkan dengan individu yang memegang jawatan yang mampu memenuhi tuntutan mereka yang menawarkan rasuah.
Justeru, rasuah boleh meresap ke mana-mana jawatan atau pangkat, seperti yang dilihat dalam kes baru-baru ini melibatkan ketua pengarah dan timbalan ketua pengarah Jabatan Alam Sekitar, bersama seorang penolong pegawai kawalan alam sekitar, yang direman atas dakwaan salah guna kuasa dan rasuah yang dikaitkan dengan pengurusan sisa elektrik dan elektronik (e-waste).
Pengimportan haram e-waste menjejaskan alam sekitar negara dan membahayakan kesihatan awam melalui pencemaran toksik, di samping meningkatkan keperluan untuk pelupusan yang betul dan selamat.
Kami mengalu-alukan peningkatan jumlah kes rasuah berprofil tinggi yang terbongkar, terutamanya kerana Malaysia dianggarkan kerugian kira-kira RM55bn setahun antara 2018 dan 2023 akibat rasuah.
Kekayaan yang diperoleh secara haram juga menyumbang kepada peluasan jurang pendapatan dan kekayaan dalam masyarakat.
Apabila rasuah berleluasa, pelabur asing tidak yakin beroperasi di negara ini, kerana bimbang kos operasi lebih tinggi dan keuntungan berkurangan.
Malaysia mestilah menggalakkan pemberi maklumat untuk tampil ke hadapan.
Dalam hal ini, CAP mencadangkan untuk meneliti semula buku Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia oleh Dr Kua Kia Soong, yang membangkitkan isu kritikal mengenai ketelusan dan akauntabiliti dalam perbelanjaan pertahanan.
Memandangkan tentera adalah aset utama negara dan berperanan sebagai barisan hadapan dalam melindungi kedaulatan negara, sebarang kelemahan atau ketidakstabilan menandakan kelemahan kepada ancaman luar.
Rasuah dalam kalangan mereka yang diamanahkan untuk menjaga negara adalah pengkhianatan amanah peringkat tertinggi, kerana ia secara langsung menjejaskan keselamatan negara.
CAP amat membenci semua bentuk rasuah, kerana ia meningkatkan kos, menjejaskan kualiti barangan dan perkhidmatan yang diberikan kepada orang ramai, dan mengalihkan dana awam ke tangan mereka yang menerima rasuah.
Kami menggesa hukuman penjara mandatori tanpa kelonggaran, kerana rasuah berkait rapat dengan kuasa, pengaruh dan ketamakan.
Ia mestilah dibezakan dengan jelas daripada kesalahan kecil seperti mencuri di kedai, yang sering dilakukan kerana kemiskinan, terdesak dan keperluan asas dan bukannya niat jahat atau penyalahgunaan kuasa. – CAP
English version
CAP’s deep concern over escalating corruption
The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) expresses grave concern over the increasing number of individuals charged in court for corruption-related offences from 2025 to early 2026.
The sums involved run into billions of ringgit – funds that could have benefited the people through the maintenance or upgrading of infrastructure, rather than being uncovered by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers in the form of unaccounted cash, valuables, assets and bank accounts.
In 2025 alone, the MACC recorded more than RM8.4bn in asset recovery actions, over 1,100 arrests and nearly 200 convictions as it intensified its crackdown on corruption, abuse of power and financial crimes.
During the same year, the MACC opened 6,114 investigation papers, carried out 966 arrests, filed 1,128 charges, secured 445 prosecutions and obtained 189 convictions.
Of those arrested, 423 were public servants, 163 were from the private sector, 504 were members of the public, 34 were linked to government-linked companies and four were politicians.
More recent cases include former senior military leaders, with an ex-army chief charged with money laundering and a former armed forces chief charged with abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and accepting bribes. Through such alleged activities, those who are meant to benefit from public projects are instead deprived of them.
This marks the first time in Malaysian history that individuals holding the nation’s highest military leadership positions have been formally charged with corruption and related offences.
Corruption is often associated with individuals in positions of power who are able to fulfil the demands of those offering bribes.
As such, corruption can permeate any position or rank, as seen in the recent case involving the director general and deputy director general of the Department of Environment, together with an assistant environmental control officer, who were remanded over alleged abuse of power and corruption linked to electrical and electronic waste management.
The illegal importation of e-waste endangers the country’s environment and public health through toxic pollution, while further intensifying the need for proper and safe disposal.
We welcome the increasing number of high-profile corruption cases being uncovered, particularly as Malaysia is estimated to have lost about RM55bn annually between 2018 and 2023 due to corruption.
Such ill-gotten wealth also contributes to widening income and wealth disparities in society.
When corruption is widespread, foreign investors are deterred from operating in the country, fearing higher operating costs and reduced profits.
Malaysia must do more to encourage whistleblowers to come forward. In this regard, CAP suggests revisiting the book Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia by Dr Kua Kia Soong, which raises critical issues on transparency and accountability in defence expenditure.
As the military is a nation’s key asset and serves as the front line in protecting national sovereignty, any weakness or instability signals vulnerability to external threats.
Corruption among those entrusted with safeguarding the country represents a betrayal of trust of the highest order, as it directly undermines national security.
CAP abhors all forms of corruption, as it inflates costs, undermines the quality of goods and services provided to the public, and diverts public funds into the hands of those who receive bribes.
We call for mandatory custodial sentences with no leniency, as bribery is closely associated with power, influence and greed.
This must be clearly distinguished from minor offences such as shoplifting, which are often committed out of poverty, desperation and basic needs, rather than malice or abuse of power.
Mohideen Abdul Kader is the president of the Consumers’ Association of Penang.
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
