PETALING JAYA: The National Patriots Association (Patriot) has applauded the government’s move to launch the Perdana International Anti-Corruption Champion Foundation (PIACCF).
Patriot president Brig-Jen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji (pic) said the launch is apt as the nation is “seriously mired in corruption.”
“We are sickened to see national leaders and officials in high offices abuse their power and unashamedly succumb to greed and thievery.
“Like a rot that starts from the top, the act of a national leader must have emboldened other leaders and those who held high offices into corruption as well,” said Mohamed Arshad in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 12).
The foundation, launched by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, will provide assistance to officers of anti-corruption agencies who are victimised, persecuted or abused while carrying out their duties.
PIACCF is also meant to help those who have been intimidated, threatened or maliciously punished while on duty.
Patriot also applauded the move by the government to honour the late Datuk Anthony Kevin Morais and Novel Baswedan.
Both Morais and Baswedan were the recipients of the Perdana International Anti-Corruption Champion 2020 Award.
Morais, a senior deputy public prosecutor was murdered in 2015 while investigating a corruption scandal, and Baswedan, an officer with Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission had acid thrown at him during one of his investigations in June 2016.
The incident left Basweden partially blind.
“Let the courageous acts of these two individuals be an example to others that corruption is not only sinful but evil, and must be eradicated totally.
“Patriot would like to assure that it supports every effort taken by the government and including NGOs at eradicating all forms of corruption and abuses,” said Mohamed Arshad. -The Star